cause of the African in their hands. Their variety of talent, their generosity and humanity, their unswerving devotedness to that which they believe to be right,-all combine to give them a power far beyond any that has ever been exerted by those noisy enthusiasts, who, led on, I am inclined to believe, by the mere impulse of political ambition, have been oral friends of the African. There are prophecies in the Bible which look to the disenthralment and elevation of all the descendants of Africa, whether we take into consideration those which refer particularly to Africa, or those which in their general tenor, with respect to the moral and intellectual progress of the races, include this benighted land. I have specially examined in the original that glorious and oft-cited passage, in Psalm 68: 31, "Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her hands unto God." I think that this text might have been more literally rendered, "Ethiopia shall suddenly stretch out," &c. For the idea contained in the verb y rendered, "shall soon stretch out," is not so much temporal as moral. The first meaning of the verb is, to run; then, in the Hiphil form, to cause to run, or to lead on hastily, to do the thing quickly, before the occurrence of any obstacle; hence suddenly. Gesenius renders the passage, "Ethiopia shall let her hands make haste unto God." The vulgate has, "manus præveniet." If, then, the promise is that Ethiopia shall suddenly be redeemed, is there not furnished a rebuke to those who, because things now look unpromising, give themselves up to despair, and fancy that there will never be the inauguration of better times? Why should men at any time boldly deliver themselves on matters in which the intellectual vision is necessarily bounded, and with regard to which experience so abundantly shows that they cannot arrive at infallible conclusions, however extensive the induction upon which they base their reasonings? The problem of African disenthralment and elevation, is beyond the power of human ingenuity to solve. Nothing short of Omniscience could so lay down the premises for reasoning on this important subject, as to insure a result entirely free from error. Can the most acute and far-reaching intellect indicate the immediate antecedents, or the concomitants of that remarkable period when "a nation shall be born in a day?" We may now be upon the very eve of events which are to usher in the redemption of the African. The time, yea, the set time to favour Africa, may be just about to break upon us in all its glory. And yet it may be that centuries form the interval which lies between us and that day of jubilee. We cannot tell. Though, from the signs of the times, we feel justified in taking a hopeful rather than a desponding view. The last half century has been remarkably prolific of schemes for the recuperation of Africa. Men of influence, both in Europe and America, who formerly sat quietly and did nothing for Africa, are zealously coming forward to her assistance. Genius, learning, wealth, enthusiasm, are all being applied to the overthrow of those agencies which have so long exercised a depressing influence upon this country and her descendants. And now, in various parts of the earth, whither this unfortunate people have been scattered, they are rising gradually in intellectual, social, and political importance. They are beginning to emerge from the overwhelming floods which for centuries have rolled their afflicting billows over them. I regret to notice, in Dr. Armstrong's "Second Rejoinder," the following sentiment: "To a people, such as the slave race in our country, the effect of slavery is elevating, not degrading.' Is it not of such assertions, proceeding from such positions, that the avaricious avail themselves in coming to these shores in quest of human cargoes? Is it not with such sentiments that they administer quiet to a chiding, guilty conscience? Indeed, precisely the same argument was, on one occasion, employed by the most notorious slave-trader that has ever visited these shores, when remonstrated with for his inhumanity in engaging in so sanguinary a traffic. Take the sentence, without the qualifications evidently intended by Dr. Armstrong, and what slave-trader would have reason to blush? Would not Da Souza, Pedro Blanco, and Theodore Canot, take foremost positions among the benefactors of mankind? Need we wonder if, under the influence of such unguarded expressions from their spiritual guides, there should be in the South that strange anomaly of civilized men openly advocating the resuscitation of the slave-trade. I say the Doctor evidently intended a qualification; for such a statement, sent unqualified into the world, will strike the minds of some, at least, as resulting less from careful and unbiased observation, than sectional partiality. I thoroughly agree with Dr. Armstrong as to the necessity and propriety of due preparation of the slaves for freedom. He is undoubtedly right in recognizing this necessity. But I do not exactly understand the process by which the Doctor intends that this preparation shall go on? What is the idea intended by an "ameliorating slavery?" Will not a preparation, to be at all available, necessitate the introduction of elements into the present condition of the slave which will divest it of many of those characteristics on account of which we denominate it slavery? After the process of preparation has been completed, I see, for the descendants of Africa in the United States, no other hope than a general exodus to Liberia, or other portions of this continent. And I believe that such will be the finale of American slavery. Africa is to be the great receptacle of the major portion of Africans in the Western hemisphere. I believe that there will yet come a time when, by one mighty impulse from above, coloured men in the North and in the South, in the East and in the West, will turn anxiously hither. Liberia is not yet prepared for their reception; but, as soon as she is prepared, they will come. The work here is going on simultaneously with that in America. This is the theatre upon which are to be performed those acts which will deliver the African from his degradation, and secure for him the respect of the other races. O ye, men and brethren, more favoured by Providence, help us to "act well our part." If you are doubtful of our progress, and cannot predict ultimate success, do not raise clouds to darken the prospect immediately before us. Send us the aid of your superior education, larger experience, and overflowing treasuries. Help us to diffuse intelligence over our land, that the means of education, multiplying with the increase of popu lation, may keep pace with the growing wants of Church and State. Entreat and urge all intelligent and worthy coloured men to come here and assist in the great physical and moral work to be accomplished. Coloured men of intelligence, who remain in the United States, determined to battle, by social, political, and ethical reasonings, against the influences which tend to depress them, are under a great mistake; they are doing very little more than "beating the air." It is not possible for oral instrumentality alone successfully to attack and destroy inveterate prejudice. I regret that, instead of coming here, and laying their shoulders to the wheel, and urging forward this newly-constructed republic of African nationality, they are wasting their physical and intellectual energies in resultless endeavours to achieve a moral impossibility. The time has now come when the enlightened descendants of Africa should earnestly set themselves to the recovering that respect and attention for Africa of which centuries of degradation have divested her. And, in engaging in this noble task, they should, it occurs to me, abandon all doubtful and ambiguous positions. They should leave all questionable arguments. Subjects, upon which leading minds are divided, they should not meddle with. The world is pretty thoroughly learned on ethical and political obligations and duties. While discussion of these is important, they should not be exclusively adhered to. I do not believe that the moral force which is to advance our cause lies only in ethical and political demonstrations. "This is an age of practice; the true credentials are deeds; the genuine test is performance." Our hope of effectually dispelling the delusion of the absolute inferiority of the negro, lies in our furnishing to the world practical proofs of our ability to acquire and maintain all the elements of true manhood. We must attract attention towards us by our success in the cultivation of all those qualities of intellect which adorn the European. We must obtrude upon them evidences of our capacity for engaging successfully in all the honourable pursuits in which they engage. In fine, we must make constant and conspicuous exhibitions of the fact that we are possessed of all the political, industrial, intellectual, and moral susceptibilities that Europeans possess. Thus, and thus only, will the world render to Africa that respect which her sons will labour in vain to acquire otherwise. But the continent of Africa offers the only theatre where these demonstrations can be successfully made. If coloured men, then, would elevate themselves and their fatherland, their duty is clear. Very respectfully yours, EDWARD W. BLYDEN, Principal of Alex. High School. P.S. Will you, Dr. Van Rensselaer, be so kind as to favour me with a few lines, if convenient? Will you further oblige me, by forwarding to my address, the entire discussion on slavery between Dr. Armstrong and yourself, referred to in the above letter, if you have any copies on hand.-[Yes, Sir.-Ed.] E. W. B. LINES ON THE DEATH OF REV. ALEXANDER BY MRS. J. L. GRAY. "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."-1 THESS. 4: 14. WEEP not for him-his pilgrimage is ended; His days of pain, his sleepless nights are past; His soul hath found the better land at last- Weep not for him—he is not dead, but sleeping; Weep not for him-well may the hopeless sorrow, Weep not for him—no heart hath e'er conceived- Dry up thy tears—to this vain world of weeping Of Christ's great harvest, shall awake to day— Dry up thy tears! O! sister, look above thee; THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE NORTHWEST. HAVING been requested to insert the action of the Synods of the Northwest, in regard to the new Seminary at Chicago, we do so, but with sorrow. We reserve our commentaries for the end. The following is the action of the Synods: SYNOD OF CINCINNATI. Whereas, This Synod has surrendered its right of synodical control in the Northwestern Theological Seminary into the hands of the General Assembly, and said General Assembly has accepted this control, with all the interests of said institution, and has organized it accordingly. Resolved, That this Synod has no more peculiar local interest in this Seminary, other than it has in every other Theological Seminary under the control of the General Assembly. SYNOD OF INDIANA. The Committee appointed to examine the Minutes of the General Assembly, brought in the following report, which, after considerable discussion, and various efforts to strike out or amend, was adopted by a vote of 28 to 10. While Synod would express its high regard for the authority of the General Assembly, to whose wisdom it had committed the organization of a Seminary for the Northwest, feels constrained to dissent from the Assembly's action in the case. 1st. Because in that action the known wishes of this body were disregarded in the organization of the Seminary. 2d. Because this Synod, although representing one-sixth of the church membership within the limits to be served by the Seminary, and notwith |