mited period. We reply, The cases are by no means parallel. In the first place, the Portuguese were actually in the possession of an extensive slave trade, and to lay it aside all at once would doubtless be attended with inconvenience and loss to many individuals. Had they had no slave trade in existence, and had we had several valuable colonies to cede to them in return for an engagement not to commence it anew, then the cases would have more nearly resembled each other. Much, however, has been obtained from Portugal in the way of limiting and restraining this trade; and the Portuguese may be considered as having with one exception renounced the right of trading for slaves on the Windward Coast, and also in a great measure on the Gold Coast. Greatly should we rejoice had the same concession been obtained from France. Still, however, we agree, that, considering all we have done for Portugal, much larger concessions on this point ought to have been obtained from her; but if they have not been obtained, it has not been owing to any remissness on the part of the Abolitionists. The members of his Majesty's Government will folly acquit them of this charge. With whom rests the blame that so little has been effected, it is not for us to say. Such of our readers as have had pose of petitioning both Houses of Parliament. The Petition adopted by a very large and respectable meeting, which assembled on the 17th instant at the Free-masons' Hall, was as follows: "To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiri. tual and Temporal in Parliament assembled. "The humble Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of London and its Vicinity, sheweth " "That your Petitioners have seen with the deepest regret and disappointment, that in the recent Treaty of Peace with France, no provision has been made for the immediate Abolition of the African Slave Trade -a trade avowedly repugnant to every moral and religious principle-but that, on the contrary, the consequence will be its revival, on a large scale, and to an indefinite extent. That it appears to your Petitioners, that this revival is attended with circumstances of peculiar aggravation; great and populous Colonies, in which, during the last seven years, the importation of Slaves has been strictly prohibited, and has even been made highly penal, having been freely ceded to France, not only without any stipulation for the continuance of that prohibition, but with the declared purpose on the part of that country, of commencing a new Slave Trade for their supply; and thus a system of robbery and murder, which had for many years been practically extinct, is now to be revived at the very moment when France has been manifestly and signally favoured by Divine Providence; and the restoration to that country of the blessings and enjoyments of Peace is to be the signal for bring ing all the evils and miseries of a continued warfare on the unoffending inhabitants of the African Continent. "That the revival of the French Slave France of her African Forts and Factories, have excited the peculiar regret of your Petitioners, by disappointing the hopes they had been led to indulge of the improvement and civilization of that large district in which those possessions are situated, and in which the Slave Trade having been nearly suppressed, the consequent induction of cultivation and a legitimate commerce had begun to make some compensation to Africa for the miseries formerly indicted. the patience to follow us through this long detail, we flatter ourselves, will now be convinced that we have not complained of the treaty on slight Trade, and the unconditional restoration to grounds, but that the strongest expressions we have employed are fully justified by the facts of the case. If so, need we add a single word to incite them to do what may be in their power, if possible, to avert, and at least to mitigate, the evils which we have shewn are to be apprehended? But what is it that remains to be done? We realły do not know that any thing better can be done by the friends of this cause throughout the United Kingdom than to imitate the example which has been set them in London, and to meet for the pur the fair and legitimate commerce with "That it appears to your Petitioners, that Africa, which since the Abolition of the Slave Trad: by Great Britain had materially increased, and was rapidly enlarging itself to an extent which promised important ad vantages to both countries, is exposed to immediate injury, and to eventual destruction, by the revival of that inhuman traffic, which for so many ages retained that illfated Coast in a state of barbarism and de solation. "That your Petitioners cannot but lament that the recognition in the Treaty of the radical injustice of the African Slave Trade should be followed by a provision for its revival; and though that provision is accompanied by the declaration of an intention to abolish the Trade in Slaves after five years, yet they cannot conceal from themselves that various and extensive interests will be created, which at the end of the specified term will present new and alarming obstacles to the fulfilment of the declared intention. "Your Petitioners therefore, deeply impressed with the necessity of immediately adopting such measures in Parliament as may, be best calculated to prevent all the before-mentioned evils, as well as the evasion or infraction of the Abolition Laws of Great Britain by the clandestine importation of Slaves from the French Colonies into our own, or by the employment of British Capital in this nefarious traffic, humbly pray your [Lordships] to take the premises into your serious consideration, and to adopt such measures thereupon as to your [Lordships'] wisdom may seem meet. "And your Petitioners will ever pray, &c."* Besides the measures specifically suggested in the prayer of the Petition, it is obvious that much may be done at the approaching Congress, if not to shorten the term during which the slave trade shall be carried on, yet to secure the general concurrence of the European Powers in totally abolishing it at the end of the five years, and perhaps in resolving, thenceforward to deal with it as piracy. France may also be prevailed upon to wave her right to trade for slaves both on the Windward and Gold Coast; and Holland may be induced to abandon the traffic altogether. May we not hope that something also may be still done for St. Domingo? The length into which we have been led in discussing the question of the slave trade, but for which we feel that to the readers of the Christian Observer no apology is necessary, obliges us to contract within very narrow limits, or rather entirely to postpone, our observations on some other important public transactions. The New Constitution that has been given to France;-the Restoration in Spain, not only of the ancient despotism, but of the Inquisition, and of the whole mass of monkish abuses;-the visit to this country of the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia, attended by many distinguished foreigners;-the splendid illuminations on account of the peace which greeted their arrival*;-the intemperate proceedings of the Catholic Board of Ireland, and the disturbed state of parts of that country, which have produced the necessity of adopting some new measures of vigour for the maintenance of the public tranquillity;—the trial and conviction of Lord Cochrane, Mr. Cochraue Jolinstone, and four others, for a conspiracy to defraud the public by spreading false intelligance, in order to raise the price of the public funds; with many other points, we must reserve for our next Number. We have only room to mention, that the 7th of July has been appointed as a day of public thanksgiving for the peace. Without wishing to say one word which should check the liveliest emotions of gratitude for the astonishing events we have witnessed in Europe, will it be thought an unseasonable intrusion to remind our readers, that unhappily the peace which we are called to celebrate, is the barbinger, to a whole continent, of misery and desolation? Let us spare to Africa, from our full cup of blessing, at least our commiseration and our prayers. If we had our wish, a day of intercession should be set apart by Christians of every name with a view to this object. We witnessed, among the many devices which appeared on that occasion, only one which entirely accorded with the state of our own feelings. It represented Africa kneeling, and in fetters, imploring in vain the compassion of liberated Europe. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. FILIUS; THOMAS PRICHARD; CLERICUS OXONIENSIS; L. T.; T. D. MACBRIDE; M. I. A.; IN RECTO DECUS, will be inserted. SENEX ; AN ENQUIRER; S. D; ECCLESIASTICUS; ALBERT; ; THEOGNIS; A SON OF THE PROPHETS; On the intrinsic Evidence of Christianity; C. O.; J. C.; A CITY CURATE; GENERAL BURN; A FRIEND TO PROTESTANTISM; VASSELEY; AN OLD FELLOW, have all been received. T. T. will find answers to his Query in the earlier Volumes of our Work. The account of Miss Benn is unavoidably postponed, together with many articles of Religious Intelligence which we should have been glad to insert. EAST-INDIA, MISSIONS. (Continued from p. 345.) N 1764, the letters from Tranque Swartz and another Missionary had gone on foot to Tanjore and Trichinapoly, preaching the Gospel to Christians and heathens. At Tanjore he erected a small meetinghouse, in which to preach, and also to teach children. He preached even in the palace of the king of that place; where he took occasion, from questions asked him concerning worldly matters, to turn the discourse to things relating to God and heaven. The king was present, and heard him without being seen by him. In 1765, Mr. Hutteman, in making a report of his mission, states the case of several professors of Christianity who had been converted from a life of sin to a life of holiness, and also the good effects of the conferences he had had with heathens. His account of the conversion of a Pandaram deserves particular notice. "He was a priest of Isuren's sect, a man of the noblest tribe, and of great judgment and learning. It is now more than a year that this man visited me, and declared the scruples of his conscience, and expressed himself warmly against the vanity and wickedness of the Malabar religion. I told him, that the religion of the blessed Jesus was admirably fitted for such souls as are really concerned about their eternal interest-that feel with a deep com-punction the load of sin. At the CHRIST, OBSERV, No. 151, same time, I plainly told him the many difficulties that attend the embracing of this religion; that he must sincerely renounce the wicked flesh; must prepare for ill treatment and persecution, even from those who formerly venerated him; however, that all these difficulties are surely infinitely out-weighed by the inexpressibly great rewards proposed in the Gospel, and by the inconceivably dreadful threatenings against the despisers of this religion. "He went away, and promised to deliberate upon these things, and I did not hear of him till last November; when he returned to this place, and was courteously entertained by the heathen merchants, who venerated him as their priest: mean while, he visited me now and then, and was present when Divine service was held in the Malabar language. At last it pleased the Lord to work in him a thorough conviction. He took his solemn leave of the heathens, declaring unto them the reasons why he did forsake the Malabar religion, and embrace that of the Christians. After he had been several weeks amongst us, he wrote, at my desire, his life, and the reasons that induced him to turn a Christian, as follows:-- "My name is Tondaman Mudaly; I was born near Tirunawaly, in the kingdom of Madurei, in the year Pingala Warusham, 1737. In my infancy, my parents taught me, that there was a Being who had created heaven and earth, and that good men would go to heaven, but the wicked to hell; and in my youth I 3 H began to be solicitous for the salvation of my soul for which reason I was assiduous in reading our books. In my fourteenth year I resolved to choose the life of a priest or pandaram of Isuren, to visit all holy pagodas and temples, and to wash in their sacred water, in certain hope of attaining thereby salvation. "About this time I was so unfortunate to lose both my parents; this confirmed my resolution, and I inquired for the most famous pandaram who could make me a disciple by baptism, and teach me the forms and prayers, and all things necessary to a true pandaram. I was told that three hours from Majaburam at Tarmaburam, in the kingdom of Tanjore, there was such a one: hereupon I took a journey to him, received the purification of water, and learned under him for the space of five years. I had a great desire to procure by my penances salvation to as many as possible; I therefore asked leave of my pandaram to go on pilgrimages, to which he consented, and permitted me to sacrifice wherever I should come. "Reading frequently with attention our books, I was surprized to find our gods were born of father and mother, and that quite different operations were ascribed to them: to Bruma the creation, to Wishtnu the redemption, and to Siwen or Isuren the destruction. I likewise found that the same gods were subject to many imperfections: Biruma (or Bruma) knew not who had killed his wife; and Perumal (or Wishtnu) was ignorant of his wife's being ravished; he knew not his father's death till he learned it by letters, &c. "I was much scandalized by the profane and immoral service performed in our pagodas." (He here relates some shocking particulars of the impurity of the Hindu worship, which we recommend to the attention of the advocates of Hinduism.) "All this, the feelings of my conscience told me, could not be from the eternal God, whom reason and the still voice of nature proclaim to be an Holy Being, who abhorreth vice and impurity, and delights in virtue and chastity: this must undoubtedly be from Satan, the father of lewdness. However, since our whole nation is zealously attached to this worship, I stifled the clamours of my conscience, thinking that if it was really wrong, so many thousands of people could not follow it: and so I went on, visiting one pagoda after another. "At last I came to Cuddalore, and was informed that here was a priest who taught the religion of Parabara Wastu (the Supreme Being); and when I visited you, and heard the Wedam (religion) of Paraba Wastu, the mists of mine understanding began to clear up, and all that you said of the perfections of God, and the manner to worship him, was immediately approved by the silent voice of reason and conscience. All the doctrines which your Wedam proposeth lead directly to the honour of the only true God: may his Name be blessed for ever! It describeth man as he really is, sinner and guilty; it rejects the unavailing atonements by penances performed by a miserable sinful wretch. Must not a mountain be supported by a mountain? Can the ant be a match for the lion?-The holy and dreadful sufferings of Jesus Mattiastar (Redeemer or Reconciler) have atoned for the violated rights of the Divine government. Your Wedam enables a man to curb and subdue his passions and wicked appetites of the flesh; and makes the mind in love with holiness by the Spirit of Jesus. It containeth the clearest revelation of life and immortality, and such grand promises that are more than sufficient to bear us up in the course of a Christian and virtuous life, notwithstanding the discouragements from a wicked world. It threateneth to obstinate vice and impenitence so dreadful punishments, that are enough to counterpoise the momentary and fleeting pleasures of sin. It is there fore my firm resolution to embrace this Wedam, to live and die in it. I have weighed the Malabar religion against it; but, alas! the former is too light; I know it is of Satan, and the direct way to ruin soul and body. "Parabara Washtu, Creator of the universe, have mercy upon me! O how do I bewail that I have been 28 years thine enemy! I have forsaken thee, the living fountain, and worshipped idols, whom thou abhorrest. Jesus Nadar (redeeming Lord), impute thy blood unto me, and procure me the forgiveness of my sins. Thou Spirit of Holiness, sanctify my heart, and form me into the likeness of the blessed Jesus. Amen." This man was made master of the Malabar School. Soon after his conversion he received the following warning letter from the College of Pandarams, of which he had been a member : "The grace of Siwen, the creator, redeemer, and destroyer, be effectual in the soul of Arunasalam. If you inquire into the reasons of our writing this letter to you, know then you were on a journey to the holy place of Casby, and behold, by the cunning fraud of that arch enemy, the devil, your great wisdom and understanding have been so blinded, that you were not ashamed to go at Cuddalore to the low and base nation of Franks and European people, who are no better than the Parryars, and to hear and be instructed in their despicable Wedam (i. e. religion.) Ö, in what an amazement were we thrown at the hearing of this! The moment we heard it we met in the divine presence of the head of the sacred college of Pandarams, and consulted on this event. Indeed we are sunk in an ocean of sorrow. It is need less to write you many words on the subject to a man of your understanding. Did you belong to the cruel populace, many words might be necessary. Remember, Arunasalam, your change is like a king turning Parryar. What have you wanted amongst us? Had you not honour and subsistence sufficient? It is unconceivable what could move you to bring such a stain on the character of a Pandaram. We must impute this misfortune which has befallen you to a crime you have committed against God in your former generation. Consider, Arunasalam, the noble blood of the Tondamar from whence you sprang. You associate yourself to the basest people, that eat the flesh of cows and bullocks; can any wisdom be amongst them? The moment you receive this letter return again to this place. May Siwen give you understanding! "This is divine oracle, written at the command of his holiness, the head of the Pandarams at Tarmaburam." To this letter he returned the following answer : "The grace of Parabara Wastu, who is Jehovah the living God, the very blessed Creator and Preserver of the universe, fill the souls of all Pandarams at Tarmaburam. I have received your letter, and have read the contents with true compassion. Will you know the reason? It is this: you have unaccountably forsaken the living God, the eternal Creator of all that exists, and have given the honour due to him to the creature. You think yourselves wise, though fallen into the most dreadful foolishness. You worship the arch enemy of all that is good, the devil. You give divine honour to men, who were born of father and mother, and who during their life have been notorious fornicators, adulterers, rogues, and murderers. In your religious books are related the obscenest facts, whereby lust, the fire of Satan, is furiously kindled at an instant. My heart melts within me. I weep over you. Fourteen years have I been witness of your infamous worship in your pagodas; and I am in my con science convinced that you are in the road that leads directly to hel |