the condition of this depressed and degraded race. The controversy does not appear to be with the means, but with the end, not of the Colonization Society merely, but of every society that shall presume to extend a sympathetic hand to this class of our population. The negroes must be retained in slavery, because they are too much degraded to be safely trusted with freedom; and their condition must not be improved, lest the way should be paved for their redemption, at some disstant day, from their hereditary thraldom.

The following is another remarkable evidence of determined hostility to negro advancement.

The bill to prohibit the instruction, public and private, of free persons of colour, in reading and writing, underwent discussion at some length, on its second reading, and was, after being amended, sent to the senate. The bill to prohibit the employment of coloured clerks, was also read a second time, and sent to the senate.

What are the provisions of this bill, I have not been able to discover; but admitting that its object is indicated, with any tolerable accuracy, by its title, we must be astonished that such an enactment should be even suggested to a republican legislature. Must the free born inhabitants of this land of boasted liberty, be debarred from the attainment, at their own expense, or by the aid of their friends, of the first elements of knowledge, because they are not entirely as white as ourselves? A law of that state, passed in 1740, prohibits the teaching of slaves to write, under a penalty of 428 dollars. But that was before the revolution. The people of South Carolina were then under a royal government.

The light respecting the inalienable rights and the natural equality of man, which was elicited by the revolutionary contest, had not then illumined our legislative halls.

Now, after all the improvements of nearly a century, the same brutalizing ingredients are mingled in the cup of legislation; not for the lips of slaves, but for those who are free. The law of 1740 left the slave at liberty to learn, if he could, to read, but now the free coloured person is to be debarred from this privilege. The free negro and mulatto must not read the Bible. If they are pagans, they may be pagans still. This was the state, which, earlier than any other south of New England, manifested a determination to resist the encroachments of the British governYet what were those encroachments compared to the measure proposed? The ministers of George the Third never insulted the South Carolinians with the intimation that they were entitled to fewer privileges than the people of England, because they were a little more embrowned with the sun. Suppose the legislature of one of our states to extend such a provision to the Irish, Germans, or any other class, except Africans, and what would be said of it?

ment.

SLAVE TRADE.

The plenipotentiaries of the powers who signed the treaty of Paris, the 30th of May, 1814, assembled in Congress:

Having taken into consideration that the traffic known under the name of the African Slave Trade, has been regarded by just and enlightened men of all ages, as repugnant to the principles of humanity and of universal morality; that the particular circumstances to which this traffic owes its origin, and the difficulty of abruptly interrupting

its progress, have, to a certain degree, lessened the odium of continuing it; but that at last the public voice in all civilized countries has demanded that it should be suppressed as soon as possible; that since the character and the details of this traffic have been better known, and the evils of every sort which accompanied it completely unveiled, several European governments have resolved to suppress it; and that successively all powers possessing colonies in the different parts of the world have acknowledged either by legislative acts or by treaties and other formal engagements, the obligation and necessity of abolishing it; that by a separate article of the last treaty of Paris, Great Britain and France engaged to unite their efforts at the Congress at Vienna to engage all the powers of Christendom to pronounce the universal and definite abolition of the slave trade: that the plenipotentiaries assembled at this Congress cannot better honour their mission, fulfil their duty, and manifest the principles which guide their august sovereigns, than by labouring to realise this engagement, and by proclaiming in the name of their sovereigns the desire to put an end to a scourge that has so long desolated Africa, degraded Europe, and afflicted humanity.

The said plenipotentiaries have agreed to open their deliberations as to the means of accomplishing so salutary an object by a solemn declaration of the principles which have guided them in this work.

Fully authorised to such an act, by the unanimous adherence of their respective Courts to the principles announced in the said separate article of the treaty of Paris, they in consequence declare in the face of Europe, that, looking upon the universal abolition of the Slave Trade, as a measure particularly worthy of their attention conformably to the spirit of the age and to the general principles of their august sovereigns, they are animated with a sincere desire to concur, by every means in their power, in the most prompt and effectual execution of this measure; and to act in the employment of those means with all the zeal and all the perseverance which so great and good à cause merits.

Too well informed of the sentiments of their sovereigns not to foresee, that, however honourable may be their object, they would not pursue it without a just regard to the interest, the habits, and even the prejudices of their subjects; the said plenipotentiaries at the same time acknowledge that this general declaration should not prejudge the period which each particular power should look upon as the most expedient for the definite abolition of the traffic in slaves. Consequently the determination of the period when this traffic ought universally to cease, will be an object of negotiation between the different powers; it being, however, well understood, that no means proper to ensure and accelerate its progress should be neglected; and that the reciprocal engagements contracted by the present declaration between the sovereigns who have taken part in it, should not be considered as fulfilled until the moment when complete success shall have crowned their united efforts.

In making this Declaration known to Europe, and to all the civilized nations of the earth, the said plenipotentiaries flatter themselves they shall engage all other governments, and particularly those who, in abolishing the traffic in slaves, have already manifested the same sentiments to support them with their suffrage in a cause, of which the final triumph will be one of the greatest monuments of the age which undertook it, and which shall have gloriously carried it into complete effect.

Vienna, Feb. 8, 1815.

Revolutionary Anecdote.-The following characteristic anecdote of John Langdon, is given in Chastellux's Travels, an edition of which is recently published in this city::-"At the time of Burgoyne's descent into the States from Canada, Mr. Langdon was a member of the Council or Senate of New Hampshire. Going to the Council chamber, he perceived the members about to discuss some affairs of little consequence, and addressed them as follows: Gentlemen, you may talk as long as you please; but I know that the enemy is on our frontiers, and that I am going to take my pistols and

mount my horse, to combat with my fellow-citizens.' The greatest part of the members followed him, and joined General Gates at Saratoga. As he was marching day and night, reposing himself only in the woods, a negro servant who attended him, said to him, Master, you are hurrying yourself; but, no matter, you are going to fight for liberty-I should suffer patiently also, if I had liberty to defend.' • Don't let that stop you,' replied Colonel Langdon, from this moment you are free.' The negro followed him, behaved with courage, and has never quitted him." The publisher of this edition, in his notes at the end of the work, has mentioned the African regiment of Rhode Island, who gained their liberty by defending that of their masters through the Revolution.

6

Notices and Anecdotes of the African Lion, by Pringle.-Two varieties of the lion are found in southern Africa, namely, the yellow and the brown; or (as Dutch colonists oftener term them) the blue or black lion. The dark coloured species is commonly esteemed the strongest and fiercest. I doubt, however, whether there is any real specific distinction, although some lion hunters enumerate no less than four varieties; for the mere difference in size and colour may be either altogether accidental, or the consequence of a variation of food and climate in different districts.

The lions in the Bushmen's country, beyond the limits of the colony, are accounted peculiarly fierce and dangerous. This is undoubtedly owing to their unacquaintance with civilized man, the possessor of the formidable roer or rifle, and still more perhaps to their instinctive awe of mankind having been extinguished by successful rencontres with the poor natives. It is said that when the lion has once tasted human flesh, he thenceforth entirely loses his natural awe of human superiority; and it is asserted, that when he has once succeeded in snatching some unhappy wretch from a Bushman kraal, he never fails to return regularly every night in search of another meal; and often harasses them

so dreadfully, as to force the horde to desert their station.

The prodigious strength of this animal does not appear to have been overrated. It is certain, that he can drag the heaviest ox, with ease, a considerable way; and a horse, heifer, hartebust, or lesser prey, he finds no difficulty in throwing over his shoulder and carrying off to any distance he may find convenient. I have myself witnessed an instance of a very young lion carrying a horse about a mile from the spot where he had killed it; and a more extraordinary case, which occurred in the Sneenburg, had been mentioned to me on good authority, where a lion, having carried off a heifer of two years old, was followed on the track for fully five hours by a party on horseback, and throughout the whole distance the carcass of the heifer was only once or twice discovered to have touched the ground.* Many examples, not less remarkable, might easily be added, which would fully prove the lion to be by far the strongest and most active animal, in proportion to his size, that is known to exist.

The lion springs from nine to twelve yards at a single leap, and for a brief space, can repeat these bounds with such activity and speed, as to outstrip the swiftest horse in a short space; but he cannot hold out at this rate in a long pursuit, and seldom attempts it. The monarch of the forest is, in fact, merely a gigantic cat, and he must live by using the arts of a cat. He would have but a poor chance with the antelope, were he always magnanimously to begin a roaring whenever a herd approached his lair. He knows his business better, and generally couches among the rank grass or reeds that grow around the pools and fountains, or in the narrow ranges through which

*Sparrman relates the following among other instances of the lion's strength :-"A lion was once seen at the Cape to take a heifer in his mouth, and though the legs of the latter dragged on the ground, yet he seemed to carry her off with the same ease as a cat does a rat. He likewise leaped over a broad dike with her without the least difficulty."

the larger game descend to drink at the rivers; and in such places one may most commonly find the horns and bones of the animals which have been thus surprised and devoured by him.

Even in such places, it is said, he will generally retreat before the aweinspiring presence of man; but not precipitately, nor without first calmly surveying his dimensions, and apparently measuring his prowess. He appears to have the impression, that man is not his natural prey; and though he does not always give place to him, he will yet in almost every case abstain from attacking him, if he observes in his deportment neither terror nor hostility. But this instinctive deference is not to be counted upon under other circumstances, nor even under such as are now described, with entire security. If he is hungry, or angry, or if he is watching the game he has killed, or is otherwise perturbed by rage or jealousy, it is no jest to encounter him. If he assumes a hostile aspect, the traveller must elevate his gun and take aim at the animal's forehead, before he comes up close and couches to take his spring; for in that position, though he may possibly give way to firmness and self-possession, he will tolerate no offensive movement, and will anticipate, by an instant and overwhelming bound, any attempt thus to take aim at him. These observations are advanced on the uniform testimony of many of the back country boors and Hottentots, with whom I have often conversed on these subjects.

My friend, Diederik Muller, one of the most intrepid and successful lion hunters in South Africa, mentioned to me the following incident, in illustration of the foregoing remarks. He had been out alone hunting in the wilds, when he came suddenly upon a lion, which, instead of giving way, seemed disposed, from the angry attitude he assumed, to dispute with him the dominion of the desert. Diederik instantly alighted, and confident of his unerring aim, levelled his mighty roer at the forehead of the lion, who was couched in the act to spring, within fifteen paces of him; but at the moment the hunter fired, his horse, whose bridle was round his arm, started back and caused him to miss. The lion

bounded forward, but stopped within a few paces, confronting Diederik, who stood defenceless, his gun discharged, and his horse running off. The man and the beast stood looking each other in the face, for a short space. At length the lion moved backward, as if to go away. Diederik began to load his gun; the lion looked over his shoulder, growled, and returned. Diederik stood still. The lion again moved cautiously off, and the boor proceeded to load and ram down his bullet-the lion again looked back and growled angrily; and this occurred repeatedly until the animal had got off to some distance, when he took fairly to his heels and bounded away.

FALLS OF THE GARIEP IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.

I made inquiries respecting a great cataract, which, I had been informed, existed in this vicinity, and soon ascertained that it was not above seven or eight miles down the river. As mid day was scarcely passed, I determined to visit it immediately. I therefore set out with Witteboy, and five of the Korannas, whom I engaged to accompany us on foot.

As we approached the fall, the sound began to rise upon our ears like distant thunder. It was still, however, a work of some exertion to reach the spot, from which we were divided by a part of the river, and beyond that by a tract of wild woodland, several miles in extent.

The main and middle branch of the Gariep, which forms the cataract, traverses a sort of island, of large extent, covered with rocks and thickets, and environed on all sides by streams of water. Having crossed the southern branch, which at this season is but an inconsiderable stream, we continued to follow the Korannas, for several miles, through the dense acacia forests, while the thundering sound of the cataract increased at every step. At length we reached a ridge of rocks, and found it necessary to dismount, and follow our guides on foot. It seemed as if we were now entering the untrodden vestibule of one of nature's most sublime temples, and the untutored savages, who guided us, evinced, by the awe and circumspection with which they trod,

that they were not altogether mindenced by the genus of the place. They repeatedly requested me to keep behind, and follow them softly; for the preciouces were dangerous for the feet of men, and the gas and sound of the cataract were so fear.. that they them Bestes regarded the place with awe,

and Texted out sidom to visit i

י.

At lenge the whole of them halted. and deared me to do the same. Oze: of them stepped forward to the brink of the precipice, and having looked cantion.y over, beckoned to me to advance-I did so, and witnessed a carions and striking scene; but it was not yet the waterfall; it was a rapid formed by almost the whole volume of the river, compressed into a Larrow channel of not more than fifty yards in breadth, where it descended at an angle of nearly 45 degrees, and rushing tumultuously through a black and crooked chasm among the rocks, of a frightful depth, escaped in a torrent of foam. My swarthy guides, although this was evidently the first time they had ever led a traveller to view the remarkable scenery of their country, evinced a degree of tact, as well as of natural festing of the picturesque, that equally pleased and surprised me.

Having forewarned me that this was not yet the waterfall, they pioneered the way for about a mile further along the rocks, some of them keeping near, and continually cautioning me to look to my feet, as a single false step might precipitate me into the raging abyss of waters, the tumult of which seemed to shake even the solid rocks around us. At length we halted as before, and the next moment I was led to a projecting rock, where a scene burst upon me, far surpassing my most sanguine expectations. The whole water of the river, (except what escapes by the subsidiary branches of the river we had crossed, and by a similar one on the north side) being previously confined to a bed of scarcely one hundred feet in breadth, descends at once in a magnificent cascade of fully four hundred feet in height.

I stood upon a cliff nearly level with the top of the fall, and directly in front of it. The beams of the evening sun fell full upon the cascade, and occasioned a most splendid rainbow; while

the vapory mists areng from the bram waters, the bright green woods win hung from the surrounding chefs, the astounding roar of the waterfall and the tamalacas boding and whirling of the stream below, striving to escape along its deep, dark, and narrow path formed altogether a combination of beauty and grandeur, such as I never before witnessed.

As I gazed on this stupendous scene, I felt as if in a dream. The sublimity of nature, drowned all apprehensions of danger; and after a short pause, I Lastly left the spot where I stood, to gain a nearer view from a cliff that more immediately impended over the foaming guif., I had just reached this station. when I felt myself grasped all at once by four Korannas, who simultanecasly seized hold of me by the arms and legs.

My first impression was, that they were going to hurl me over the precipice; but it was a momentary thought, and it wronged the friendly savages. They are themselves a timid race, and they were alarmed lest my temerity should lead me into danger. They hurried me back from the brink, and then explained their motive, and asked my forgiveness. The character of the whole surrounding scenery, full of rocks, caverns, and pathless woods, and the desolate prospect of the Gariepine mountains beyond, accorded well with the wild grandeur of the waterfall, and impressed me with feelings never to be effaced.

The river, after pouring itself out in this beautiful cascade, rushes along in a narrow chasm, or canal, of about two miles in length, and nearly five hundred feet in depth, apparently worn in the solid rock, in the course of ages, by the force of the current.

In the summer season, when the river is in flood, the fall must be infinitely more magnificent; but it is probably at that season altogether inaccessible; for it is evident, that the mass of waters unable to escape by this passage, then pour themselves out, in mighty streams, by the two subsidiary channels, which were now almost dry, and at the same time overflow nearly the entire tract of forest land between them, which forms, at other seasons, a sort of island, as we now found it.