nor the loss of reputation and comfort; nor the perils of the great deep; nor the certainty of encountering the scorn and persecution of a proud and oppressive people; that made him pause, and deliberately consider the proposition which was made to him, in behalf of the friends of the slaves across the Atlantic. Was the cause, which he was invited to espouse, of greater moment than any other which presented itself? Could he hope to be more useful in it than in a subordinate enterprise? Would such a mission be in accordance with the spirit of the gospel of Christ ? Was he qualified to sustain it? These were the great questions which occupied the thoughts of MR. THOMPSON, and which, in his view, included all other considerations.

The first question he could readily answer in the affirmative. There was no conceivable interest, appertaining to a human being, either for time or eternity, either affecting his body or soul, which was not bound up in the cause of the slave. Slavery was the transformation of man, with all his faculties and powers, into a beast, a machine, an article of merchandize. It was full of mortal woe, and the wreck of immortality. It was the entire subversion of the moral government of the universe, the frustration of God's design in the creation of man, the daily crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Slavery was practically a state of atheism on the part of the masters, and of heathenism as it regarded the slaves. If the whole man was ruined by it, what other cause contemplated the rescue of more than the whole man? Invention-science-the arts-letters-self-government -progressive improvement-domestic happiness-private and public safety-national union-honor and re

nown-freedom of conscience, of speech, of the press, of choice, of locomotion-individual liberty-the sacred relations of life-the circulation of the scriptures -the triumph of the gospel-all these depended upon the extinction of slavery. No other cause embraced so many particulars.

The astonishing success which had already crowned his labors in Great Britain, and his familiarity with the subject of slavery, in all its legal, physical and moral relations, authorised him to believe, that his usefulness could not be enlarged by the prosecution of an inferior enterprise, however excellent in itself. He was now better qualified than ever to renew the warfare against slavery, inasmuch as his experience and knowledge were greater than when he first enlisted in the service.

The third question was affirmatively answered by his heart and his understanding, as soon as it was propounded. His mission would be, physically and spiritually, intellectually and morally, the identical mission of the Son of God to bind up the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captive, and the opening of the prison doors to those who were bound. It was authorised by the command of the risen Saviour-Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.' An English Christian may as properly visit America, and labor for the subversion of slavery, as an American christian may go to India, and toil for the downfal of idolatry so Jesus Christ determines. His gospel is aggressive, and it disregards all territorial distinctions, all national peculiarities, and all human prohibitions. A christian is authorised to conflict with sin wherever he

finds it. There is no place so remote, no station so lofty, no power so great, no government so peculiar, as to shield sin from rebuke and exposure. Yet proud and pharisaical America is enraged to madness, because she is admonished for her bloody crimes by a christian stranger; and her priests and her churches (with some signal exceptions) artfully strive to inflame her hatred, and join in the sanguinary cry, Away with him! crucify him! crucify him! his blood be upon us, and on our children !'

The last question, whether he was qualified to sustain so important an agency, was one which, sincerely distrusting his own abilities, he referred to the consideration and decision of the most discreet friends of the colored race in Great Britain. As soon as the mission was suggested to them, whatever may have been their opinion of its suitableness or feasibility, they unanimously agreed, that GEORGE THOMPSON was pre-eminently qualified to prosecute it. Nor did they throw up any obstacles in his path: on the contrary, they generously proffered all needful assistance.

Having ascertained the views of his numerous friends, MR. THOMPSON gave me the joyful assurance, a few days before my departure, that Deo volente, he would visit America, and cast his lot among the proscribed advocates of injured humanity. But he must first perform an important work in England. It was proposed to organize a Society in London, for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ; under whose auspices, Mr. T. would embark for the United States. To accomplish this noble object, MR. THOMPSON travelled through the kingdom, lecturing in the principal towns and cities, and stimulating afresh the

compassion and benevolence of the colored race universally. The parent society was soon organized in the metropolis, and several auxiliary associations were also formed in various parts of the country. In Scotland, particularly in Edinburgh, MR. THOMPSON was received with every demonstration of respect, affection and delight. The enthusiasm of his crowded audiences was boundless.

Here I may pause, to notice some of the many ridiculous charges which were brought against MR. THOMPSON, after his arrival in this country.

First. He was taunted with being a 'Scotchman,'' the Scotch emissary,' &c. This sneer is as false in fact, as it is puerile in reason, and worthy of those whose nativity the most degraded tribe on earth should be loath to claim. Surely, to be born in Scotland is no more justly reproachful, than to be born in the United States, and, indisputably, is quite as honorable and praiseworthy. Contempt of other nations belongs to barbarism, and is generally a proof of personal or domestic inferiority. Still, if we may lawfully enslave men because they or their ancestors were born in Africa, we have an unquestionable right to contemn those who originated in Scotland. To this grave charge, that he was a foreigner, MR. THOMPSON used playfully to reply, that he had no choice, or control, in selecting the spot upon which he first drew the breath of life; that if he could have made an election, at the time of his birth, perhaps he might have chosen Boston, or New York, or Philadelphia, in America, as the place of his nativity; and that, if any mistake had been committed, he had done what he could to rectify it, by leaving England for America!

It is proper to state,—not to relieve Mr. T. of any odium, but for the sake of accuracy,-that he was born in Liverpool, and must therefore relinquish the satisfaction of belonging to renowned and enlightened Scotland.

Again. It was partly alleged, that MR. THOMPSON was sent out to this country, by a small number of antiquated spinsters, in Glasgow or Edinburgh :

'As to THOMPSON, the foreign vagrant, who has attempted with impudent zeal to create excitement, he has been hooted from every place where he has recently attempted to hold forth. He will soon find it most expedient to return to his own country, and give an account of his mission to the silly women who squandered their money for his support.'-[Boston Centinel.]

The ethics of the abolitionists, as expounded by their imported mouthpiece, THOMPSON, in the employment of the Glasgow philanthropistisses, appears to be gaining some ground in the Slave States. Several murders have recently been perpetrated, and God willing,' as these murderous hypocrites have it, we suppose several more will be committed,' &c.—[New York Courier and Enquirer.]

‹ What! the Cradle of Liberty [Faneuil Hall] in little more than half a century to become its coffin! The place where the Adams's and the Otis's have so often uttered, in burning eloquence, the matchless value of our institutions, to echo with the raven croakings of such creatures as Garrison! —the mad imbecilities of Stow, the flatulent dogmatisms of the fanatic Birney, from Kentucky, and the theatritcal contortions of the mouthing and noisy driveller, acting as the stipendiary of the Glasgow seamstresses? -the poor creature, who, having been found too dishonest for employment by men, has tied himself to the apron-strings of some canting old women, and derives his only power of purchasing his daily bread and butter from the scanty savings of a few Scotch females. This is one of the scoundrels, -we have no mealiness of phraseology for incendiaries, sent here with lighted torches in their hands to set fire to our social fabric, &c. [Idem.]

England entailed this curse [slavery] upon our land; and now some maiden ladies in England send forth two mad missionaries to preach treason to our Constitution, and inculcate upon us 'a labor of mercy wards our black population! We shall not attend the meeting in question

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