In speaking of the Duchess of K-, tormented by conscience, the great chancellor of the soul: "Act, then, always in such a manner as to gain the approbation of your heart-to be truly brave, one must be truly good. We have Reason as a rudder, Religion for our anchor, Truth for our polar star, Conscience as a faithful monitor, and perfect Happiness as a recompence." In the same letter, endeavouring to drive away recollections which might expose his virtue to a new shipwreck, he exclaims-" Why bring to mind those combustible matters, whilst, rapidly glancing over my past years, I approach the end of my career? Have I not the gout, six children, and a wife? O Heaven! where art thou?"

"You see that it is much easier to speak than to act. But we know how to separate good from evil; let us arm ourselves against vice, and act like a general in his camp, who ascertains the force and position of the enemy, and places advance guards to avoid surprise: let us act so, even in the ordinary course of human life; and believe me, my friend, that a victory gained over passion, immorality, and pride, is more deserving of a Te Deum than that which is obtained in the field of ambition and carnage."

ATTOBAH CUGOANO

Was born on the coast of Fantin, in the town of Agimaque; and was dragged from his country with twenty other children of both sexes, by European robbers, who, brandishing their pistols and sabres, threatened to kill them if they attempted to run away. "They confined us," he says, "and soon I heard nothing but the clanging of chains, the sound of the whip, and the cries of my fellow prisoners."

In this dreadful situation he was carried to Grenada, and made a slave. But Lord Hoth, in his generosity, liberated him and carried him to England. He was there in 1788, in the service of Cosway, the first painter to the Prince of Wales.

Piatoli, who during a long residence in London was particularly acquainted with Cugoano, then about forty years of age, and whose wife was an English woman, praises this African highly; and speaks in strong terms of his piety, his mildness of character, modesty, integrity, and talents.

At Grenada he saw the negroes lacerated by the whip, because, instead of working, they went to church on Sundays. He saw others have their teeth broken, becaase they dared to

suck the sugar cane. Being a witness to these cruelties, he paints the heart rending spectacle of those poor Africans in an affecting manner; describes their being forced to bid a final farewell to their native soil-to fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, and children, and all that they hold dear: invoking heaven, bathed in tears, and enclosed in each other's arms, giving the last embrace, and instantly torn asunder! This spectacle," says he, "calculated to move the hearts of monsters, does not that of the slave dealer."

Cugoana published his reflections on the slave trade, and the slavery of the Negroes, in English; and it has since been translated into French. He raised his voice to spread abroad the spirit of religion, and to prove by the Bible, that the stealing, sale, and purchase of men, and their detention in a state of slavery, are crimes of the deepest die.

After some remarks on the cause of difference of colour in the human species, such as climate, soil, regimen, &c., he asks whether it is " more criminal to be black or white than to wear a black or white coat: whether colour and bodily form give a right to enslave The Negroes have never crossed the seas to steal white men. The Europeans complain of barbarism, while their conduct towards Negroes

men.

is horribly barbarous. To steal men, to rob them of their liberty, is worse than to plunder them of their goods."

"On national crimes, heaven sometimes inflicts national punishments. Besides, injustice is sooner or later fatal to its author." This idea is conformable to the great plan of religion; and ought to be indelibly impressed on every human heart.

Cugoano makes a striking comparison between ancient and modern slavery; and proves that the last, which prevails among professing Christians, is worse than that among Pagans; and also worse than that among the Hebrews, who did not steal men to enslave them, nor sell them without their consent; and who put no fine on the head of a fugitive. In Deuteronomy, it is formally said: "Thou shalt not deliver up to thy master a fugitive slave, who in thy house has sought an asylum." He passes from the Old to the New Testament, and states the inconsistency of slavery with Christ's command, to do to others as we would they should do to us.

In Cugoano we see talents without much literary cultivation; and to which a good education would have given great advantage. His writ ings are not very methodical, but they speak the language of a feeling heart, and are read with interest by those who are averse to slavery.

PHILLIS WHEATLEY.

Although the state of Massachusetts never was so deeply involved in the African slave trade as most of the other states, yet before the war which separated the United States of America from Great Britain, and gave us the title of a free and independent nation, there were many of the poor Africans brought into their ports, and sold for slaves.

In the year 1761, a little girl about seven or eight years of age was stolen from her parents in Africa, and being put on board a ship, was brought to Boston, where she was sold for a slave to John Wheatley, a respectable inhabitant of that town. Her master giving her the name of Phillis, and she assuming that of her master, she was of course called Phillis Wheatley.

Being of an active disposition, and very attentive and industrious, she soon learned the English language; and in about sixteen months so perfectly, that she could read any of the most difficult parts of the Scriptures, to the great astonishment of those who heard her, And this she learned without any instruction, except what was given her in the family,