civilized Europeans. Allow of this principle, as applied Africa, and I should be glad to know why it might also have been applied to ancient and uncivilized Brit Why might not some Roman Senator, reasoning on principles of some honourable gentlemen, and pointing British barbarians, have predicted with equal boldnes "There is a people that will never rise to civilization there is a people destined never to be free-a people with the understanding necessary for the attainment of usef arts; depressed by the hand of nature below the level the human species; and created to form a supply of slav for the rest of the world?" Might not this have be said, according to the principles which we now hear state in all respects as fairly and as truly of Britain herself that period of her history, as it can now be said by us the inhabitants of Africa? We were once as obscure among the nations of the eart as savage in our manners, as debased in our morals, as graded in our understandings, as these unhappy Africa are at present. But in the lapse of a long series of year by a progression slow, and for a time, almost imperceptib we have become rich in a variety of acquirements, favoure above measure in the gifts of Providence, unrivalled commerce, pre-eminent in arts, foremost in the pursuits philosophy and science, and established in all the blessing of civil society: We are in the possession of peace, happiness, and of liberty; we are under the guidance of mild and beneficent religion, and we are protected by im partial laws, and the purest administration of justice: are living under a system of government, which our ow happy experience leads us to pronounce the best and wises which has ever yet been framed; a system which has be come the admiration of the world. From all these blessings we must for ever have been shut out, had there been an truth in those principles which some gentlemen have n hesitated to lay down as applicable to the case of Africa Had those principles been true, we ourselves had languished to this hour in that miserable state of ignorance, brutality, and degradation, in which history proves our ancestors to have been immersed. Had other nations adopted these. principles rinciples in their conduct towards us. Had other nations pplied to Great Britain the reasoning which some of the enators of this very island now apply to Africa, ages might ave passed without our emerging from barbarism; and we, who are enjoying the blessings of British civilization, of British laws and British liberty, might, at this hour, have een little superior, either in morals, in knowledge, or, renement, to the rude inhabitants of the Coast of Guinea. If then, we feel that this perpetual confinement in the etters of brutal ignorance, would have been the greatest alamity which could have befallen us; if we view with ratitude and exultation the contrast between the peculiar lessings we enjoy, and the wretchedness of the ancient inabitants of Britain; if we shudder to think of the misery hich would still have overwhelmed us, had Great Britain ontinued to the present times to be the mart for slaves to he more civilized nations of the world, through some cruel olicy of theirs, God forbid that we should any longer subect Africa to the same dreadful scourge, and preclude the ight of knowledge, which has reached every other quarter f the globe, from having access to her coasts! If we listen to the voice of reason and duty, and pursue his night the line of conduct which they prescribe, some of is may live to see a reverse of that picture, from which ve now turn our eyes with shame and regret. We may ive to behold the natives of Africa engaged in the calm conpations of industry, in the pursuits of a just and legitinate commerce. We may behold the beams of science and hilosophy breaking in upon their land, which, at some happy period in still later times, may blaze with full lustre ; nd joining their influence to that of pure religion, may lluminate and invigorate the most distant extremities of hat immense continent. Hints on the Morals of the Peasantry. (Continued from p. 373.) IT is not to be imagined that impurity of thought is implied, even in the freedom and bluntness of those jokes which would appear so unwarrantable and shocking in VOL. II. NN more more polished life; but it is impossible to say what inflaence the impression which they make on the minds of the young may afterwards exert on their conduct. The evil is also too apt to be increased by their occa sional intercourse with others of their own age, whose dis positions and habits are more irregular; an evil, of itself, of no small magnitude. To such associates they are exposed, not only by the circumstances of their condition, but sometimes by the imprudence of their parents, who, in or der to relieve their confined mansion of the romp and riot of amusement, allow them to go abroad to meet their neighbours and others. This is a capital error. The deadliest blow may be thus given to their religious and moral principles, for how zealously soever these are inculcated, if they be assailed before reason, or even habit is matured for their support, they may be but too easily overcome. The seeds of virtue or of vice may be implanted with the first feelings of desire or aversion, and since the growth of passions is so much more rapid than that of reason, they must be influenced, in the meantime, principally by education and example, and, therefore, cannot be carefully enough watched, especially if there be indications of constitutional warmth and impetuosity in the child. A casual temptation at this tender age is to be estimated not merely by the effect produced at the moment; the im pression will remain, and, after the maturity of several years, it may awake, glowing in all the allurements, and armed with all the vehemence of early associations. Then too, perhaps, it will be of little avail that reason remonstrates and conscience wounds; habit, which should have been their handmaid, is combined against them, and passions naturally ardent are rendered more so, and more inveterate by long indulgence. How often do we see this continual but unsuccessful. struggle-how often do passions survive the power of gratification-and how often do their unhappy victims "Resolve and re-resolve-then die the same." The young should, therefore, be early taught to con trol their thoughts and desires; to shun the appearance, nay, the slightest suggestion of evil; be habituated to in dustry dustry and contentment, and furnished with internal resources against that vacancy and listlessness of mind, which leaves unguarded every avenue to the heart, Such discipline will be the shield of their virtue, and the earnest of their prosperity. Let home be made their most agreeable pastime. Home they should never be permitted to leave, either for a neighbour's, or the fields, or streets, without being scrupulously watched, or at least without their associates being cautiously and prudently chosen. When occasionally intrusted to the care of a neighbour, the smallest impropriety should be mildly, but firmly checked. They will be apt to take some liberties at such times, and it would be mistaken and unpardonable delicacy in a neighbour to overlook them, even though the character of their own children, their companions, were out of the question. The virtue of children of the lower orders is from their very situation open to considerable trials, but what will be the issue, if these be multiplied and strengthened by the indiscretion of those whose happiness is most involved with theirs, and whom God has appointed their natural guardians. Let parents strive to promote brotherly love among their children; this is the cement of domestic felicity, and the nurse of many virtues; and, above all, be religiously exact and exemplary in their own words and actions; a failure here will discredit the best precepts and admonitions. I know how readily they admit, that "habit is a second nature;" it is so: and evil habits are more easily acquired than good, and perhaps more permanent It should be their daily study to regulate this principle, which, if not directed, seems the chief source of those particular deviations and vices to which their order of society is exposed. To their general character I have already berne honorable testimony, but am convinced that greater attention to this subject would render them still more entitled to admiration. Allow me to conclude with illustrating the advantages of such attention to the habits of children, by sketching a domestic picture. I was once called on to witness the death of an old acquaintance, in my native village, who had been rewarded for his exertions in behalf of his children, and for the judicious management of his family, by NN 2 seeing seeing them rise to respectability and competence. His wife had been dead some years, and he continued with his eldest son, who had succeeded to his little farm. Another son and daughter, who lived at no great distance, had come to pay him the last homage of their affection. I found him surrounded by his children and little grandchildren. To this disconsolate party he had just addres sed his dying advice, and administered his farewell blessing. He expressed to me the happiness which he felt in being thus permitted, in the complete possession of his senses and faculties, to enjoy such an interview, and in being enabled to die with the faith and resignation of a christian, He was quite exhausted, and had scarcely enough of breath to request me to read the last hymn of our church paraphrases, beginning The hour of my departure's come, &c." When I came to these lines, "I leave the world without a tear, Save for the friends I held so dear," יי: he grasped my hand: I stopped-the tear had actually started, but I heard him falter—“ O! read the rest :' which I did, with as much composure as my emotion would allow. The stream of life had then ebbed too far to flow again after this struggle with his feelings! Every heart was throbbing-every voice was mute but every eye gazing on his sainted visage, silently said, "Behold the death of the righteous." 1. G. To banish, imprison, plunder, starve, hang, and burn men for their religion, is not the gospel of Christ, it is the gos pel of the devil. Where persecution begins Christianity ends; and if the name of it remains, the spirit is gone. CHRIST NEVER USED ANY THING THAT LOOKED LIKE FORCE OR VIOLENCE, EXCEPT ONCE, AND THAT WAS TO DRIVE BAD MEN OUT OF THE TEMPLE, AND NOT TO DRIVE THEM IN! JORTIN. |