being in constant communication with the Havana Slave merchants.'

"This new and dreadful impetus to the Slave trade, predicted by our commissioners, has already come to pass. In a list of the departure of vessels for the coast of Africa, from the Havana, up to a recent date, I find that, in the last four months,' no other flags than those of Portugal and the United States have been used to cover slavers."

"No symptom in the case is so alarming as this. It remains to be seen, whether America will endure that her flag shall be the refuge of these dealers in

human blood.

"I confidently hope better things for the peace of Africa, and for the honour of the United States."

Besides the 150,000 annual victims included in the "Christian" department of the African Slave trade, there is estimated to be about a third of that number sold

in the Mohammedan markets of Morocco, Tunis, Tripoli, Egypt, Turkey, Persia, Arabia, and the borders of Asia. But the 200,000 do not represent one half of the case; for they are but a remnant

grave, would be deeply afflicting ought not to shrink from thinking to humanity. But the Christian of the bitterness of the cup which so many of his fellow-creatures are at this very moment drinking to its dregs; in order that his prayers, and, if opportunity allows, his efforts, may be prompt on their behalf. Mr. Buxton has noticed many of the well-known facts related during the Slave-trade controversy. These we will not repeat but we are bound to give two or three extracts embodying recent facts, in order to prove that the scenes described are not tales of by-gone generations.

:

The following is a specimen of the modes of capture and the sufferings of the inland march.

"The pacha of Egypt professed not to know that his army had been employed in slave-hunts for the purpose of discharging arrears of pay: but he admitted he was aware that his officers had carried on the Slave trade for their own account, a conduct of which he

ed in the capture; the march to the coast, and detention there; the voyage to the slave-colonies; the sufferings after capture and landing; and the initiation into slavery, called "the seasoning." Our pages during many years so teemed with accounts of these horrors, that we know not that it is requisite to repeat them; but it is to be borne in mind, that far from having decreased, they have multiplied, not only by reason of the larger num. ber of victims, but in consequence of the restrictions on the traffic, especially as regards the cruelty and mortality of the middle passage. We deal with round numbers and statistics, till we almost fail to appreciate the overwhelming amount of individual suffering condensed in them. We compute vaguely by hundreds of thousands; whereas any one case followed throughout its details, from the midnight capture to the untimely CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 16.

prise of a traveller, Count De Laborde, who has lately returned from Nubia and Egypt, will enable me to introduce those of my readers who have not seen his work, (Chasse aux Nègres, Leon De Laborde, Paris, 1838), to the scenes of cruelty and devastation perpetrated by the pacha's troops, which he has graphically described.

"The narrative, of which I can only give a brief outline, was communicated to him by a French officer, who went to Cairo in 1828, and resided ten years in Egypt. "M. there learnt that four expeditions, called gaswahs, annually set out from Obeid, the capital of Kordofan, towards the south, to the mountains inhabited by the Nubas negroes. The thus described: One day he heard a manner and object of their departure are great noise; the whole village appeared in confusion: the cavalry were mounted, and the infantry discharging their guns in the air, and increasing the uproar with their still more noisy hur

ras. M.

on inquiring the cause of the rejoicing, was exultingly told, by a follower of the troop, It is the gaswah.' The gaswah! for whatgazelles?' 'Yes, gazelles; here are the nets, ropes, and chains; they are to be brought home alive.' On the return of 2 I

the expedition, all the people went out, singing and dancing, to meet the hunters. M. went out also, wishing to join in the rejoicing. He told Count Laborde he never could forget the scene presented to his eyes. What did he see? What gain did these intrepid hunters, after twenty days of toil, drag after them? Men in chains; old men carried on litters, because unable to walk; the wounded dragging their weakened limbs with pain, and a multitude of children following their mothers, who carried the younger ones in their arms. Fifteen hundred negroes, corded, naked, and wretched, escorted by 400 soldiers in full array. This was the gaswah. These the poor gazelles taken in the Desert. He himself afterwards accompanied one of these gaswahs. The expedition consisted of 400 Egyptian soldiers, 100 Bedouin cavalry, and twelve village chiefs, with peasants carrying provisions. On arriving at their destination, which they generallycontrive to do before dawn, the cavalry wheel round the mountain, and by a skilful movement form themselves into a semi-circle on one side, whilst the infantry enclose it on the other. The negroes, whose sleep is so profound that they seldom have time to provide for their safety, are thus completely entrapped. At sunrise the troops commence operations by opening a fire on the mountain with musketry and .cannon; immediately the heads of the wretched mountaineers may be seen in all directions, among the rocks and trees, as they gradually retreat, dragging after them the young and infirm. Four detachments armed with bayonets, are then despatched up the mountain in 'pursuit of the fugitives, whilst a continual fire is kept up from the musketry and cannon below, which are loaded only with powder, as their object is rather to dismay than to murder the inhabitants. The more courageous natives, however, make a stand by the mouths of the caves, dug for security against their enemies. They throw their long poisoned javelins, covering themselves with their shields, while their wives ́and children stand by them and encourage them with their voices; but when the head of the family is killed, they surrender without a murmur. When struck by a ball, the negro, ignorant of the nature of the wound, may generally be seen rubbing it with earth till he falls through loss of blood. The less courageous fly with their families to the caves, whence the hunters expel them by firing pepper into the hole. The negroes, blind and suffocated, run into the snares previously prepared, and are put in irons. If after the firing no one makes

his appearance, the hunters conclude that the mothers have killed their children, and the husbands their wives and themselves. When the negroes are taken, their strong attachment to their families and lands is apparent. They refuse to stir, some clinging to the trees with all their strength, while others embrace their wives and children so closely, that it is necessary to separate them with the sword; or they are bound to a horse, and are dragged over brambles and rocks until they reach the foot of the mountain, bruised, bloody, and disfigured. If they still continue obstinate, they are put to death.

Each detachment having captured its share of the spoil, returns to the main body, and is succeeded by others, until the mountain, de battue en battue,' is depopulated. If from the strength of the position, or the obstinacy of the resistance, the first assault is unsuccess. ful, the general adopts the inhuman expedient of reducing them by thirst. This is easily effected by encamping above the springs at the foot of the mountain, and thus cutting off their only supply of water. The miserable negroes often endure this siege for a week; and may be seen gnawing the bark of trees to extract a little moisture, till at length they are compelled to exchange their country, liberty, and families, for a drop of water. They every day approach nearer, and retreat on seeing the soldiers, until the temptation of the water shewn them becomes too strong to be resisted. At length they submit to have the manacles fastened on their hands, and a heavy fork suspended to their necks, which they are obliged to lift at every step.

"The march from the Nuba mountains to Obeid is short. From thence they are sent to Cairo. There the pacha distributes them as he thinks proper. The aged, infirm, and wounded, are given to the Bedouins, who are the most merciless of masters, and exact their due of hard labour with a severity proportioned to the probable short duration of the lives of their unhappy victims.

"At Obeid alone 6000 human beings are annually dragged into slavery, and that at the cost of 2000 more, who are killed in the capture. The king of Darfur also imports for sale yearly 8000 or 9000 slaves, a fourth of whom usually die during the fatigues of a forced march: they are compelled, by the scarcity of provisions, to hurry forward with all speed. In vain the exhausted wretches supplicate for one day's rest; they have no alternative but to push on, or be left behind a prey to the hungry jackals and hyænas. On one occasion,' says the

narrator, when, a few days after the march of a caravan, I rapidly crossed the same desert, mounted on a fleet dromedary, I found my way by the newlymangled human carcases, and by them I was guided to the nightly halt.'

"Dr. Holroyd, whom I have already mentioned, in a letter to me, of date 14th January, 1839, says, in reference to these ، gazouns,' of the Egyptian troops, I should think, if my information be correct, that, in addition to 7000 or 8000 taken captive, at least 1500 were killed in defence or by suffocation at the time of being taken; for I learnt that, when the blacks saw the troops advancing, they took refuge in caves; the soldiers then fired into the caverns, and, if this did not induce them to quit their places of concealment, they made fires at the entrances, and either stifled the negroes, or compelled them to surrender. Where this latter method of taking them was adopted, it was not an uncommon circumstance to see a female with a child at her breast, who had been wounded by a musket-ball, staggering from her hiding-place, and dying immediately after her exit.'"

The above relates to the supply of the Mahommedan market; but the "Christian" market is not stocked upon milder terms; while it adds to all the cruelties of the capture and the march, the still worse inflictions of the slave-ship, which we have so often related that we will not recapitulate them. The following are corroborations of very recent date:

"In a letter which I received from Captain Wauchope, of date 13th August, 1838, he says, 'In February, 1836, I was informed by Commander Puget, that the Spanish slaver Argus, three months before this date, was chased by the Charybdis, Lieutenant Mercer; that during the chase ninety-seven slaves had been thrown overboard, and that a Spanish captain he had captured declared he would never hesitate to throw the slaves overboard, to prevent being taken.'

"Captain Wauchope in the same letter informs me, that on the 18th September, 1836, the Thalia captured the

Portuguese brig Felix, 590 slaves on board. 'After capture,' he says, 'I went on board, and such a scene of horror it is not easy to describe; the longboat on the booms, and the deck aft, were crowded with little children, sickly, poor little unhappy things, some of them rather pretty, and some much marked and tattooed; much pains must have been taken by their miserable parents to ornament and beautify them.

"The women lay between decks aft, much crowded, and perfectly naked; they were not barred down ; the hatchway, a small one, being off; but the place for the men was too horrible; the wretches, chained two and two, gasping and striving to get at the bars of the hatchway, and such a steam and stench as to make it intolerable even to look down. It requires much caution at first, in allowing them to go on deck, as it is a common practice for them to jump overboard to get quit of their misery.

"The slave deck was not more than three feet six in height, and the human beings stowed, or rather crushed as close as possible; many appeared very sickly. There was no way of getting into the slave-room but by the hatchway. I was counted, that it was impossible for any told, when they were all on deck to be of our people to go into the slave-room for a single minute, so intolerable was the stench. The colour of these poor creatures was of a dark squalid yellow, so different from the fine glossy black of our liberated Africans and Kroomen. I was shown a man much bit and bruised; it was done in a struggle at mouthful of fresh air.'" the gratings of their hatchways for a

"Captain Wilson, R.N., in a letter dated 9th January, 1839, says: 'I have overhauled many slave-ships, and freely confess that it is impossible to exaggerate the horrors they exhibit; they are all very much alike, the greater or less misery depending, usually, upon the size of the vessel, and the time they might have been embarked, as every day brings with it a fearful increase of disease, desperation, imbecility, and death.'

Such are the mournful facts, after all the toil and sacrifice of fifty years!" O Lord, how long?"

WE perused the first edition of this valuable enlargement of the rich stores of Christian biography, and intended to offer a portion of its instructions and consolations to our readers, but the pressure of other subjects prevented. The work has rapidly arrived at a third edition; but it is not too late to transfer a few interesting extracts to our pages. Miss Catherine Cecil must forgive us if, wishing to select such portions as will be most generally coveted, we pass by the narrative of her excellent godmother, and confine ourselves to the notices of her much esteemed and honoured parent. In so doing we are very far indeed from slighting the memory of that excellent Christian lady; for most beautiful and edifying is her religious history. The spirituality, the unction, the solid practical wisdom, the self-abasing humility, the growth in grace, and the love of her Saviour; the ardent faith, and the deep experience, which marked the course of this suffering and oft-dejected yet exemplary and divinely-supported servant of Christ, render the book a delight. ful record to all who, under the same heavenly guidance, are treading the same path, and wending towards the same blessed destination.

Of Miss C. Cecil's editorship and authorship, we only pause to say that they are worthy of the name she bears; a name upon which should any who inherit it bring dishonour, the pity and reproach which would attach to them wherever the writings and memory of that holy man are precious, would be second only to their

stings of conscience and their guilt before God. Such precepts and such examples as this book exhibits involve no ordinary responsibility on those who enjoy them, either directly or by the reflected light of the written narrative.

After the example of her excellent father, Miss C. Cecil has kept practical spiritual utility prominent throughout her narrative, interweaving with it many very important observations and reflections, and concluding the whole with a well-drawn summary of the character of her beloved Christian friend. She has also, with large heart, given considerably more matter than reasonably belongs to a half guinea volume; and has added in the third edition well executed portraits of her father and Mrs. Hawkes.

The several series of extracts which we shall offer, relative to Mr. Cecil, will be embraced under the following heads: 1. His conversations: 2. His letters: 3. His character.

In all these passages we shall be making our readers acquainted with Mrs. Hawkes; for the conversations and heads of sermons were taken down by her; the letters were addressed to her; and the remarks on his character are from her pen. We need only mention, by way of introduction, that it was under Mr. Cecil's ministry Mrs. Hawkes in early life received, by the blessing of God, those religious impressions which resulted in her future consistency and maturity of Christian character; and that, in addition to the general intercourse of friendship, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil,

during several years, received her as an inmate under their roof, and entertained towards her the highest respect and affection. The attestation afforded by this volume must be peculiarly grateful to all who venerate the memory of Mr. Cecil; and it may be useful to those who suspect that zealous clergymen are acting a part or plying a trade. The Rev. J. Pratt and others have told us what Mr. Cecil was in the pulpit, and in pastoral and professional intercourse; but Mrs. Hawkes saw what he was in the unrestrained intercourse of domestic life; and her testimony is not " got up" to grace a memoir, but was recorded in her secret diary, which her modesty never suspected would find its way to publicity, as it very justly deserved to do; as none could be injured, and many may be benefited, by the transcript.

1. The following are recollections of conversations, which form

At

"Feb. 17, 1789 A day to me very momentous: I look upon myself to day as having entered the list of public professors of Christianity; i. e. to have declared myself as a follower of Christ." "Though I have many very godly acquaintance and friends, I could never speak my mind to them; and I durst not speak to my minister, whom I never fail to hear, because of my determination to keep my religion to myself. length, however, after much sorrow, and many prayers, He that promises help in time of need, sent his faithful and kind messenger to me, the least of all, with words of admonition, comfort, and instruction; which, while they are, I trust, engraven on my heart, I am also desirous to retain in my memory as to the particulars: and thus to secure to myself the advantage of often looking them over.

"In conversing, I first named my great and long predominating fear of making a profession, lest I should dishonour God. To which Mr. C. replied, Every Christian must meet with difficulties, temptations, and trials; and so will you. But what then? Is not God able to defend you? We, as ministers of the Gospel, greatly rejoice to direct and assist our flock; but in a thousand cases it is utterly out of our power to do it, even with such of them as we are most intimate. You will

frequently find yourself alone in your journey, and feel that you can turn to

no friend on earth for direction. In such cases, you must not be dismayed, but trust in God; and feel out your way like one groping in the dark; take a step at a time.

"On the other hand, take care, when you receive help from any friend, or your minister, that you do not lean too much upon them, nor be too anxious for their support. We are all poor earthen vessels.

"Watch and pray against failures; but take heed of desponding under them. Be content to travel as you are able. The oak springs from the acorn; but does it become a tree at once? Because the stage waggon cannot travel to York as fast as the stage coach, would you therefore say it will never get to York? The mushroom springs up in a night; but what is the mushroom!

"You must not look for perfection Not to

either in yourself or others.

allow for the infirmities and defects of a fallen nature, is not to understand any thing about the matter; nay, it is to speak directly contrary to the Bible, the standard of all truth. There never was more than one perfect character upon earth, and he was the most tender and compassionate towards the imperfections of men. He knew what was in man, for he looked at the heart; and if he saw that right, he pitied, where those who judged only by the outward appearance, blamed; and defended, where they condemned.

"There is one distinction you should keep very clear in your mind-that religion itself, in its essence, is perfect; as our rule and standard it is unerring; nor can it be affected by the inconsistencies or imperfections of its professors: the standard remains the same: the balances are true: but when its professors are weighed therein,—even the very best of them, they are found wanting. Our aim must be to get every day nearer the standard; for whoever does not labour, not merely desire, but labour to be a better Christian every day, is not yet a Christian at all. Yet