ver have attended church, to become the members either of a day or an evening congregation. But the compliance which cannot be won in manhood, for attendance on a church, we win in boyhood, for attendance on a school; and, when the boy becomes a man, a second effort is not necessary. It were, in fact, a far more congenial transition for him to pass from the evening school to the evening church, than if he never had attended school at all; and far more congenial for the member of an evening to become the member of a day congregation, than if, brought up in the utter want of congregational habits, he never had attended either the one or the other. Thus it is that the Sabbath-school system, which many regret as a deviation from the regularities of an establishment, is the very best expedient for feeding an establishment, and making it at length commensurate with the moral and spiritual necessities of our population. It connects the susceptibility of youth with a result, which, but for the possession of an element so manageable, might never be arrived at. It appears like the first and the firmest step to a great moral renovation in our land. And a parochial system, which might never have been reared in towns, out of such stubborn materials as the depraved and inveterate habits of our older, is thus likely to be formed and extended out of the softer materials of our younger generation. pp. 114–124.

There may, at length, be no additional expence to the city, seeing that out of the produce of the seat-rents all the charges of the evening arrangement will in time be defrayed. There will even be no additional fabrics to build, in the first instance, which the people are not yet in readiness to fill, were they erected in any sensible proportion to the existing deficiency. Thus, by a very cheap and simple arrangement, may the number of ecclesiastical labourers be doubled in every city of our land; and, with the distinctness of the day and evening congregations, the number of sitters belonging to the establishment at length be doubled also. We are not aware of a speedier method for reclaiming the outcasts and wanderers of a city population to congregational habits; nor can we think how an approximation equally rapid, and, at the same time, equally practicable, can be made in towns to the parochial system. It would instantly improve the condition of the minister as to his relationship with the parish, who will gain more by it, in point of recognition, within his own locality, in a single month, than he could do by preaching to a mixed congregation for a whole lifetime. And it would gradually extend a taste and a demand for the services of Christianity, among a people who had no taste and no demand for them before. It is altogether a chimerical apprehension, that it may only change day-sitters into evening-sitters, and cause those who have now a full participation of ordinances to be satisfied with less. It would change total non-attendants into attendants upon an evening service, who, at length, not satisfied with their deficiency from others, would have a demand for more. Instead of diminishing the taste which now is, it would create the taste which must still be called into existence. Instead of superseding the use of new churches for the people, it would prepare a people for the new churches, and turn out to be the most effectual nursery of their future congregations.

And here let it be remarked, how effectually it is that Sabbath-evening schools subserve the prospective arrangement which we are now contemplating. It requires a much harder struggle than most are aware of to prevail on grown-up people, who ne

VOL. VII.

EXTENSION OF THE SLAVE TRADE IN AMERICA.

MR EDITOR,

As I can have no doubt that the readers of the Edinburgh Magazine have sincerely deplored the permission allowed by the American Congress to import slaves into the new state of Missouri, it will, I think, give them some consolation to hear that the measure is equally deprecated by all our Transatlantic brethren in the northern states. In proof of this I will transcribe for insertion in your respectable publication, some particulars respecting that lamentable transaction communicated to me in a letter, dated April 20, and which are unquestionably authentic. The gentleman from whom I received them, and who

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less heard of the most distressing fire ever known in this country, which extended its ravages in Savannah, the capital of Georgia. A tender feeling of compassion for the sufferers called out very liberal contributions for their relief, particularly in the northern states. In the city of New York, the sum of twelve thousand dollars was immediately subscribed and forwarded, with a request that such people of colour as were sufferers might participate in the distribution. This gave umbrage to the city-council of Savannah, who sent back the money to the donation-committee of New York, because they considered it as encumbered with a condition with which they were unwilling to comply. How strange, how passing strange, that the pride of domination over a humbled race of dependents should so operate and prevail, as to produce the rejection of a charity in which benevolence, to say nothing of justice and humanity, had hoped that they might share! How apparent is it, that the possession of slaves produces a hardened, nay cruel, disposition in the master, and renders the heart insensible to the obligations of humanity, and even to the claims of compassion and mercy!"

Surely, Mr Editor, it is not too much to hope, that these real patriots and more enlightened disciples of Him whose object it was to introduce universal righteousness, " peace on earth, and good will towards men," although hitherto unsuccessful, will at length be enabled effectually to counteract and suppress the narrow sordid spirit of their more southern neighbours, and to convince them that their own happiness would eventually be not less essentially promoted by the suppression of slavery, than that of those suffering wretched people who are at present its more immediate victims.

As I am not at liberty to give the name of my informant, without his permission, I am constrained, although probably quite unknown to the generality of your readers, to sign my own.

does me the favour to correspond with me occasionally, is a minister of high character at Dorchester in Massachusetts, and in their University of Cambridge. Adverting to the execrable traffic in slaves, my friend thus expresses himself: "The whole subject has lately passed in review before our Congress, and a long session has been occupied in its discussion. This has been occasioned by an application for the admission of the Missouri territory as one of the United States, with the permission to hold slaves. It was generally believed that Congress could not grant such an indulgence; that it would be a violation of the bill of rights on which our constitution was founded, as well as of the principles of justice and humanity, and repugnant to the very spirit of liberty which is the pride and boast of a professed nation of freemen. Both in the senate and congress the question was agitated in warm debate, and in some most impressive speeches. All that learning, humanity, a regard to sound policy, and a respect to our free government could adduce in favour of restricting slavery in the State, exhibited with the most powerful and impressive eloquence, failed, alas! of effecting their benevolent purpose. Their pleadings fell upon deafened ears, and moved not hearts indurated by selfishness. The bill for the admission of the Missouri into the Union passed the House of Representatives without the restrictive clause prohibiting slavery, though only by a majority of four votes. Against the restriction 90-for it 86-so that Missouri is permitted to become a slave-holding state!!" My friend goes on to say, "It is impossible to describe the feelings of surprise and regret which this decision has occasioned in all the New England States. The friends of humanity and freedom are palsied with the shock. Not only will this be the means of continuing and extending the most disgraceful practice of keeping slaves, but of opening a new mart for the sale, and thus furnish slave-traders and kidnappers with inducements to procure, per fas aut nefas,' new supplies by importation." He then mentions the following fact, almost surpassing belief: "In connection with this lamentable result is another most painful occurrence. You have doubt

CATHARINE CAPPE. York, June 27, 1820.

This lady is distinguished, both for the intellectual energies and warm benevolence of her own character, and as being the widow of a pious and eminent dissent

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is asked, to do her justice, which, in my opinion, is the principal beauty in playing." The mother is right," thought I, after I heard the two first bars of the London March, "her willingness is the principal beauty in Miss Betsy's playing!"" Won't you accompany it with your voice, my dear?" said her mother; and Miss Betsy began to sing "Logie o' Buchan" in a voice which, as somebody says, I might have heard had we been shut up together in the same bandbox. This was no salvo for my illhumour; I felt it increasing every moment. "Behold," said I to myself, "the evils of over-refinement! Fifteen years ago I might have listened to this with patience, at least, if not with approbation; but now, when the classical melodies of Haydn and Mozart have become, as it were, naturalized amongst us, while those of Winter, Paer, Mayer, and Cimarosa, are rapidly advancing towards adoption; and, when we hear these melodies sung by our female acquaintance, with voices and science little inferior to those of professors, our taste has become fastidious, and we reject with disdain what we once received readily. Thus it ever is that factitious refinements produce in us a loathing of those pure and simple pleasuresSpite of my ill-humour, I could not suppress a smile at the absurdity of my own reasoning. Simple indeed," thought I, as I heard the voice of Miss Betsy following the notes of the piano one after another, as if they had been so many stepping-stones. I rather think my smile had been observed by the mother, and favourably construed; for, when the music had ceased, and conversation was resumed, she chatted with great glee and volubility. To do my friend Miss F- -justice, she is not much addicted to anecdote; but to-night she was forced to suit her conversation to her visitors; and we had a great deal of private family history. I happened to make a remark on a lady who has been lately married; this produced a dissertation on the dress in which she appeared at church. The value of her pelisse was calculated, and there was something said about a pair of French white boots, then "such a bonnet! a shower of rain would make it quite useless." Then we had the history of a gentle

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man and his wife, who did not agree very well; Miss F- declared it to be the gentleman's fault, Miss Gloudly maintained it was the lady's. "After all," thought I, "the new school is preferable. In the young ladies of the present day we meet with none of that petty, vulgar, interference with the concerns of others, which is so tiresome and disgusting.' Alas! I was soon doomed to change my opinion; I was forced to make the same remark on the habits of society, that an eminent moral philosopher has lately made on the powers of the human mind, namely, that we are apt to be deceived by a new modification of a known principle; and that we sometimes consider as a new faculty, what is only the same energy differently applied. The ringing of the door-bell announced the return of Miss F's fair nieces. "Thank heaven!" said I internally, we shall have done with silks, and ribbons, and family quarrels." Misses Jane and Margaret entered. They are girls of good parts; and their understandings have been well cultivated; they are accomplished without display, and well-informed without pedantry. Had I been asked, a week ago, what were their faults, I should have been at a loss how to reply; now, I could answer the question without hesitation. "Well, ladies, have you had a pleasant party?". "O yes, pleasant enough." "Of whom did it consist ?" "Oh!" said Miss Jane, "we had, in the first place, Captain -, seeming, as Edie Ochiltree says, as if he durst not look down, for fear he should see his shoes. I was highly amused with him; he was at one time twirling a painted fire-screen, which he happened to let fall; with an air of the most perfect insouciance, he suf fered it to remain on the ground, and continued conversing to the lady next whom he was standing, without appearing conscious that he had dropped it." Nay," said Margaret, " I think that may be easily accounted for; I suppose the tightness of his stays did not permit him to come within arms-length of the ground." "Who were the ladies of your par ty?" asked Miss F--. "Oh, there was Miss ——, and her cousin Miss -> who performed the entrée précipitée in finer style than I have ever seen it. When the door was opened

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