fit.

ment, it once happened in particular, that three | during their imprisonment. This punmale slaves belonging to Jamaica, escaped in ishment, in case the offender has been an open boat to Hayti, and were thus rendered previously convicted of a similar offreemen, under the protection of its government. Their former owner, in Jamaica, appli- fence, may be extended to twelve or ed to the Haytian authorities, claiming the re- even twenty-four months' imprisonstoration of his property. They replied, that ment, to which may be added whipalthough the government sought not to entice ping, at such times and places as the away the slaves, or interfere with the internal regulations of Jamaica-yet, if any escaped, justices shall, in their discretion, see and made good their landing in Hayti, the moment they touch the soil, they are free by the laws, and the government is bound to protect them. Having now officially made public this declaration, perhaps not sufficiently hitherto known to foreigners, the president (Boyer) added, that he would from that consideration only, from his private purse, grant a pecuniary compensation to the former reputed owner of these three negroes, who had been his slaves, at a fair valuation as such by the usage of Jamaica-but in all cases hereafter, they could neither grant any such indemnification, nor surrender up any foreign slave landing on their soil, and claiming the protection of Hayti.' p. 52.

This pamphlet, though not written in a superior style, contains many interesting observations. The principal aim of its author is, to prove, from varied and combined circumstances, that the system of slavery cannot long continue, and that unless the slaves obtain emancipation from other quarters, they will ultimately take it for themselves. In this conclusion he is supported by the various prognostics which the colonies are daily affording; and although many insurrections may be quelled, and many lives lost, there can be no doubt that they will be finally triumphant.

REVIEW.-Protest against the Spirit and Practice of Modern Legislation, as exhibited in the New Vagrant Act. pp. 244. London. Darton, Grace

church-street. 1824.

By the third section of the new Vagrant Act, 3d of George IV., it is enacted, that all petty chapmen or pedlars wandering abroad, not being duly authorized by law; all persons lodging in the open air, or in barns, carts, &c. and not giving a good account of themselves; all persons placing themselves in the public streets to beg, or causing any child or children to do so, or endeavouring by the exposure of wounds or deformities to effect the same purpose, shall be deemed rogues and vagabonds, and may be committed to the house of correction for any time not exceeding three months, and kept to hard labour

The pamphlet before us animadverts, in strong and pointed terms, on the severity of the preceding section, shewing that it is founded on cruelty, encourages spies and informers, and gives to magistrates a power that can hardly at all times be exempted from abuse. Of the discretion exercised by our magistates in the discharge of their official duties, the author seems to entertain but a mean opinion, and, according to his anticipations, by this new act the abuse of power will be increased.

That many real evils will be remedied by this act cannot be doubted, by leading to the detection of lazy vagabonds, who make begging a pretence while robbery is their aim, and who would rather engage in either than work. At the same time it must be admitted, that the innocent will be involved with the guilty, and real poverty will be associated with crime, because it happens to be without a home, and to be clothed in rags.

During the late distress of our manufacturers and peasantry, many instances occurred in which they were driven to acts of dishonesty to avoid starvation. Unable to procure em

ployment, they applied for parochial drove them to the dreadful expedient, relief, but were refused. Hunger and their future lives have been im

bittered with the recollection. Should this new law be enforced with rigour, many, it is to be feared, will be urged by desperation to acts of dishonesty, well knowing that nearly the same punishment awaits them, whether they steal or beg. Among the various evils which may be expected to result from this act, the author enumerates the following:

"Its evident tendency is, to blind the public judgment, as well as to harden the public heart. The destitute and miserable will be banished out of sight; the inference will soon be, that they have no existence. A false estimate will be made of the morals of the lower by vice rather than poverty. The crowded classes, who will appear to be characterized state of our prisons will be appealed to in

Review: Sermon on Slavery-Atrocities of the Pirates.

proof of the growing profligacy of the lower orders. Facts are said to be stubborn things; and when the increasing number of prisoners is stated as evidence of increasing depravity, the public will not stop to inquire what are the particular offences of the respective prisoners; they will not ask how many are immured within the prison-walls, and regarded as objects of punishment, who ought, according to the laws of justice and humanity, to be the occupants of hospitals rather than of prisons; -who are objects of commiseration and relief, rather than punishment."-p. 35.

It appears from this narrative, that Aaron Smith, the author, intending to return to England from Jamaica, went on board the Zephyr merchant brig, in the character of chief mate. In the month of June, 1822, the vessel sailed from Port Royal, but she had not been at sea many days before she was captured by a pirate, on board of On the passages in the New Testa- which Smith was taken and forcibly ment, which have been adduced as detained, until the following year, apparently favouring slavery, Mr. when he made his escape. His freeHall animadverts with much judg- dom, however, at first, was not much ment and strength of mind. The sub-more welcome than his previous chain.

He was known to have been on board | death to disgrace and ignominy. He then

the pirate, was taken into custody at the Havannah, and consigned to a dungeon; thence being both unable and unwilling to procure his liberation by a bribe, he was turned over to the English admiral, put in irons, and sent a prisoner to England, was committed to Newgate, took his trial before the high court of Admiralty on the 19th of December, 1823, for robbing on the high seas, and was honourably acquitted.

In reply to the charges brought against him, Mr. Smith did not attempt to deny the facts, but contended that the depredations in which he had engaged, were the effect of compulsion, which he could only resist at the peril of his life. On one occasion he made the attempt, and the following punishment was the reward of his disobedience:

"Our attention was now excited by a cry of 'a sail, a sail,' from the mast-head, and I was driven up aloft with the usual threat, to reconnoitre, while the vessel got under weigh. I informed them that she was a merchant brig, and orders were given to go in chase immediately; the pilot undertaking to take her through the channels, while I was called down and consulted as to the best mode of fighting in case she should resist. The corsair, having gained on the brig, fired a gun and hoisted Spanish colours, which the other answered by heaving-to and displaying the English ensign. From the painted ports and figure-head of the brig, the pirate began to suspect that she was a man of war, and was fearful of approaching any nearer; he therefore ordered the fore-topsail to be laid aback, and said that he should send the boat to board her under my directions.

gave directions that I should be taken and lashed to the main-mast, and the bandage removed from my eyes. This order was quickly obeyed by his myrmidons. As soon as I was fastened to the mast, the captain cut up a number of cartridges, and placed the powder round me on the deck, with a train to it, and gave orders for the cook to light a match and send it aft. He then repeated his order, and asked if I would obey him; I persisted in my refusal, and, without any further hesitation, he communicated the fire to the powder. The explosion deprived me of my senses, and stunned me for the moment; but I soon recovered, to undergo the most horrid torture: the flames had caught my clothes, which were blazing round me, and my hands were so pinioned, that I could not relieve myself. I begged of them, for God's sake, to despatch me at once; but they only laughed at me, and the captain tauntingly asked me if I would obey him now? The excruciating agony in which I was, extorted my acquiescence, and I was ordered to be released; but I fainted before that could be done.

"When I recovered my senses, I found myself stretched on a mattress in the cabin, and in the most dreadful pain. In the frenzy and delirium of the moment, I meditated selfdestruction; but no weapons were near me, and the shattered state of my legs did not allow me to seek any. The steward was below, and I begged him to lend me his knife; but he suspected my intention, and informed the captain, who descended in a fury. You want to kill yourself, young man, I understand,' cried he; but I do not mean that you should die yet; I shall blow you up again, for I see it is the only way to make you obey me." He then ordered them to keep a watch over me, and help me to sit up and dress my wounds. I found my legs dreadfully injured, the flesh lacerated, and the bone in some parts laid bare; and by this time, large blisters bad risen on various parts of my body. I asked for a sheet to cover me, and a pillow for my head; and the captain, who now seemed to relent, ordered the stew. ard to give me all that I required. I begged that the medicine chest might be placed near me, which they did, and I seized that opportunity of swallowing the contents of a small vial of laudanum, about a hundred and thirty drops, hoping that I should wake no more in this world. The cook, who seemed to pity and feel for my sufferings, now brought me a little arrow-root and wine, and made up my bed for me. I asked him where the corsair was, and he told me, in the harbour at anchor. I expressed my surprise at the circumstance; when he informed me the captain was so con vinced that the brig was a man of war, and that I had meant to decoy them to be taken, that he was afraid to attack, and had returned into harbour shortly after I was brought down below."-p. 79 to 85.

"This intimation greatly alarmed me, and I pointed out to him the perils I should run in obeying his orders, and that, should I be captured hereafter, I should assuredly suffer an ignominious death. And what are you, sir,' cried he ferociously, that you should not suffer as well as myself? the schooner shall never be captured; for when I can no longer defend her, I shall blow her up: if you do not instantly go, I will shoot you.' I told him that he might shoot me if he pleased; but that I would not commit an act that might subject me and my family to disgrace. Seeing me resolate, and inclined to dispute his authority, he ordered his crew to blindfold me, and carry me forward, and told me to prepare myself for death. I was carried as he had directed, and he then came to me, and asked me if I was prepared:' I answered firmly, yes. He then left me, and immediately a volley of musketry was fired, but, evidently, only with a view to frighten me. The captain immediately came up to me, and asked "if I was not desperately wounded?" I answered, I was not; but beg-places the conduct of the ferocious ged if it was his intention to destroy me, to do captain, and the barbarians under his it at once, and not trifle with me, as I preferred command, in a light that cannot be

This book contains a detail of interesting incidents, the truth of which we see no reason to suspect.

It

contemplated without horror. In the characters of these pirates, it exhibits human nature in its lowest state of degradation and depravity, under the combined influence of gluttony, drunkenness, licentiousness, and cruelty.

GLEANINGS;-RELIGIOUS, LITERARY,
SCIENTIFIC, &c.

Civilization in New Zealand. Among the various branches of intelligence which we have just received from New South Wales, we find the following article, written by a respectable clergyman of that colony, which, we doubt not, will prove highly interesting to our readers :

"Parramatta, Dec. 8, 1823. "SIR,-It may not be uninteresting to some of your readers who occasionally visit New Zealand, and to others also who are unacquainted with that country, and the character of the inhabitants; and who may, from stress of weather, or other circumstances, be forced to take shelter in some of the harbours on that coast, to learn the original circumstances which led to the first establishment of a mission to that country, and the benefits that have resulted from that event. I shall, therefore, state some of the facts which came under my own immediate observation.

"About the year 1805, a chief, named Tippahee, with some of his friends, were brought to New South Wales in his majesty's ship the Buffalo, from Norfolk Island, where they had been left by some whaler. At this period the government of the colony was administered by the late Captain King, of the Royal Navy. On their arrival, and during their stay, his excellency shewed them the kindest attention, admitted Tippahee to his table, and provided him and his friends with suitable lodgings. They were also treated with great kindness by every respectable family in the settlement whom they visited. During Tippahee's residence amongst us, I became intimately acquainted with him, and we had many conversations relative to the state of his countrymen. I found Tippahee a man of a very superior anderstanding as an uncultivated savage, and capable of receiving any instruction. His companions also manifested strong mental faculties. When they had remained as long as they wished in the colony, the governor sent a vessel expressly with them to their own country; so that his kindness towards these savages never ceased until they were safely landed on their own shores, with many presents which they had received from the crown and private individuals. These marked attentions made a lasting impression on their minds.

barism, without the benevolent aid of the civilized world. I addressed a letter to the secretary, the Rev. Josiah Pratt, who introduced me to some of the members. I afterwards submitted my request, or memorial, to the consideration of the committee, who approved of my application, and passed a resolution to send out two or three mechanics first, when suitable persons could be found, who would venture upon such an apparently dangerous mission.

Zealand.

"In 1809, I embarked again for New South Wales. Messrs. William Hall and John King offered themselves for the New Zealand Mission; and it was determined by the committee that they should accompany me to the colony, in order that they might be forwarded to New Mr. Kendall offered himself also at that time, but was not accepted then. "On my arrival, I learned that the Boyd had been cut off in the harbour of Whangarooa, and burnt; and the master, passengers, and crew massacred and eaten by the natives; and that seven whalers, which were upon the coast at the time the Boyd was cut off, had made an attack upon Tippahee's settlement, in the Bay of Islands, when a number of his people had been killed, and himself severely wounded. These disastrous events seemed to prohibit, for ever, all future attempts to introduce the arts of civilization, and the knowledge of Christianity, amongst such a barbarous nation of cannibals.-Messrs. Hall and King retired to Parramatta, and no attempt was made at that time to establish the mission, though I entertained very strong hopes that the experiment might be tried at some future period.

"Two or three years after the loss of the Boyd, the Church Missionary Society sent out Mr. Kendall, wishing (if practicable) to begin the mission. A young chief named Duaterra, a near relation to Tippahee, had lived with me about two years. He came to London in 1809, and returned with me to New South Wales. At the time Mr. Kendall arrived, I had sent Duaterra home to his friends. From my knowledge of Duaterra, and the influence he had with his countrymen, and the anxiety he had expressed for their welfare, I was confident the missionaries might venture upon their mission. After Mr. Kendall arrived, I applied to his excellency governor Macquarie for permission to visit New Zealand, for the purpose of establishing the mission. From the calamities that had befallen the crew of the Boyd, his excellency did not feel himself justified in giving me bis sanction to go at that period. I then sent Messrs. Hall and Kendall to New Zealand, for Duaterra and some of the chiefs. Duaterra, Shungee, Koro Koro, and Toi, returned with them to New South Wales. The governor then gave me permission to visit New Zealand. I took along with me the three missionaries, Messrs. Kendall, Hall, and King, with their families. We touched at the North "In 1806 Captain King retired from this go- Cape, explained to the natives our object, vernment, and in the beginning of the follow-proceeded to visit the inhabitants of Whangaing year embarked for England. I accompa- rooa, who had cut off the Boyd, and had a long nied him to Europe, and shortly after my arri- conversation with the chiefs upon that melanval in London, I resolved to apply to the choly event, and at last landed the missionaries Church Missionary Society, and to solicit them at the Bay of Islands, where they have reto send a mission to New Zealand, from a full mained for the last nine years. It must be alconviction that this noble race of human be-lowed that the prospect of introducing the arts ings could never rise from their degraded bar- [ of civilization, and the knowledge of the ChrisNo. 67.-VOL. VI. 2 U

tian religion, into such a bold, daring, barba- | rous, warlike nation of cannibals, was not inviting; and that it required some resolution, some self-denial, some sacrifice, to sit down in the midst of such a people, whose habits and customs, and religion, were so revolting to the feelings of civil society.

"It is probable the missionaries might have done more during their nine years' residence in New Zealand, than they have done, to promote the benevolent object of the society; yet it will be found that very much has been done, when every difficulty connected with their situation is fairly weighed.

Bay of Islands. I saw several of the crew belonging to the Cossack, who expressed their gratitude to the natives for their kindness and attention to them in their distress.

"When the Brampton was wrecked, I was on board. It will be sufficient to shew the favourable disposition of the natives, for me to refer only to the speech of a chief, known to the Europeans by the name of King George, which he addressed to his countrymen, on board the Brampton, after she became a wreck.

On Sunday, the 7th of September last, the ship struck the ground at half eob tide; and, in consequence of the increasing violence of the gale, became a complete wreck the next that the gale abated, so as to allow the natives morning. It was not until Thursday morning to approach the ship from the surrounding shores. Several canoes, full of men, some armed and some without arms, then made their appearance.

plundering the ship, the other were peaceably One party of them were for inclined: King George headed the latter party. He had dressed himself according to the New Zealand fashion; and, having commanded the attention of the natives, he spoke to the following effect:

"Before the mission was established, the natives of New Zealand were a terror to the civilized world; vessels, even in distress, were justly afraid to put into any of their harbours. Acts of plunder, murder, and other cruelties, were continually committed, either by the natives upon the Europeans, or by the Europeans upon the natives. They were constantly retaliating upon each other. From the day the mission was established, to the present time, no acts of cruelty or murder have been committed from the North Cape to the river Thames, a distance of nearly 200 miles, by any of the natives. I explained to every tribe, on my first visit, from the North Cape all along "He told the whole of the natives to behave the coast to the river Thames, the object of well to the Europeans in distress. He said the Church Missionary Society in sending that that was not a time for plunder; that, missionaries amongst them, and requested the should they injure the sailors, or take away natives not to commit any acts of violence their property, their name, which was now upon the Europeans; and in case the Euro- great, would soon become odious to all Engpeans should treat them ill, governor Mac-lishmen, like that of the native George, who quarie would punish the Europeans when they returned to Port Jackson, for any offences committed by them in New Zealand, as soon as he was acquainted with the nature of their crimes. The natives were satisfied with the promised protection, and have conducted themselves towards the Europeans accordingly. When they were injured by the Europeans afterwards, some of them came to the colony to prefer their complaints.

"I may further observe, since the mission has been established, and tools of agriculture introduced by the Church Missionary Society amongst them, the cultivation of their lands has increased twenty-fold, as far as the benefits derived from the introduction of hoes, spades, axes, &c. have extended. Ships can now, in my opinion, with perfect safety, enter the harbours of Whangarooa, the Bay of Islands, and the river Thames, and procure such supplies of fish, pork, potatoes, and other vegetables, and sometimes poultry, as they may require, unless the crews should commit some act of violence upon the inhabitants. The natives here have also made very considerable advances towards civilization. There needs no greater testimony of this than their conduct towards the crews of the two vessels which were lately wrecked upon their shores; the Cossack, in the mouth of the river Gambier, on the west side of New Zealand; and the Brampton, in the Bay of Islands. The crew of the Cossack received every attention from the natives that it was in their power to give. After they had lost their vessel, and all their clothes and provisions, they fed them while they remained in their harbour; and, on their departure, conducted the master and erew across the island to the east side, to the

had been formerly concerned in taking the ship Boyd. Besides, he said, Englishmen were Zealanders, who would have no concern in well able to avenge their wrongs; and New robbing this ship, might hereafter suffer for the misconduct of their countrymen. (Here he noticed four natives who had been killed formerly, at the Bay of Islands, by the Europeans, one after another, for the faults of other only to permit the English to remove their men.) He said, New Zealanders ought not property from the wreck to the shore, but to assist them in doing it; and he finally gave it as his decided opinion, that no natives of the wreck, but to let it remain until it should be Bay of Islands at least, ought to set fire to the broken to pieces by the winds and waves.'

"From the above facts, it will appear that the nine years, been attended with the greatest establishment of the mission has, for the last benefit, not only to the New Zealanders, bat also to the Europeans; whose vessels, from distress of weather, want of supplies, or other causes, have put into their harbours; where they can now anchor with safety, and obtain wood, water, and such refreshments as they may require.

and their crews, to treat the natives with com-
"I should recommend all masters of ships,
apprehension from them. The fewer natives
mon civility, and then they need be under little
they admit on board, the less danger there will
be of any quarrels taking place between them
and the crews of their vessels. Some attention
should be paid to the chief of the place, and he
should be requested to prevent too many of the
natives from entering the ship, lest thefts should
be committed by them. Your obedient bumble
servant,
SAMUEL MARSDEN."