In the spring of 1830, a large advance was made. The London Society, for ameliorating the condition of the oppressed and outraged subjects of Britain in the west, and for the gradual abolition of slavery, discarded its ameliorating and gradual visions, and set itself in earnest to work for the speedy extinction of slavery. This improvement, however, was almost nipped in the bud, by the enthusiastic proposal of one of its ardent friends. Grasping at an immediate object, which he thought attainable; quailing before the mustering might of the slave faction, and despairing in consequence of better things, he proposed to devote the first effort, to the liberty of the children, who should be born after a certain and early date; and his affectionate and elated heart poured such beauty around the idea, that it was carried almost by acclamation for the moment. But it was too recreant to duty, too false to nature and to fact, to retain its ground, and ere long it passed away. Meanwhile the spirit and principles of the society improved, and the duty of aiming steadily, and without compromise, at immediate and thorough emancipation, became more and more apparent.

Hitherto, the only means used by the parent society, for the attainment of its sacred objects, were, intercourse with government--parliamentary influence-occasional meetings, especially a great annual meeting in London-extensive correspondence-the ordinary press, wherever an editor could be found, not shackled by the slave influence-and

a monthly periodical of the highest order, called the AntiSlavery Reporter, edited chiefly by one of the most talented, zealous, and upright men in the nation, Zachary Macaulay.

In 1830, the Negroes' Friend Society of Dublin, with Dr. Charles E. W. Orpen, and Major Sirr, of the castle, at its head, and animated with the deep and holy spirit of Edward Wilson, tried the effect of lecturing in Ireland. It was happy, and was extended to England in 1831, and not long afterwards to Scotland. At this time the Agency SubCommittee was formed. The dear and generous "Friends" supplied chiefly the pecuniary means of every exertion. The ladies' associations of London and its neighborhood; of Birmingham and its neighborhood-of Bristol and Clifton-of Devizes-of Liverpool-of Glasgow, and of Edinburgh, distinguished themselves. Lucy Townsend and Mary Anne Schimmelpennies, married ladies, with Misses Sarah Wedgewood, Rebecca Yerbury, Lucy Riland and her sister Maria, were beyond all praise.

The modern George Knox, Andrew Thompson, of Scotland, revolutionized in part, the proud and aristocratic capital of his country. George Stephen trod gloriously in the footsteps of his noble father; and George Thompson, Edward Baldwin, Edmond Dewdney, and William T. Blair, &c.,* were raised up, either as general or local agents, salaried or independent, to pour the light of truth and love, in peace, over the land. Amongst these, as a lecturer, George Thompson had the widest sphere, and eminently distinguished himself. Ten times ten thousand hearts in Great Britain were awakened or confirmed by his powers, and blessed God for his invaluable services.

The nation began to arouse itself like a lion from its slumbers, and the slave faction, strong in the wickedness of ages, proudly encountered it with contempt and defiance. The leaders of the party in London, some of them amongst the first men in the land, met in more frequent conclave. All that influence and wealth could do, to pollute the sources of

* It is due to the writer of this article, and to the friends of humanity, that we should here say what his modesty has concealed. Not one of the laborers above mentioned acquitted himself more nobly than our friend Charles Stuart. The Agency Committee in their Report, London, 1832-thus speak of him.

"Captain CHARLES STUART, E. I. C. E. who is already well known as a persevering, uncompromising friend of the cause, with his accustomed liberality, has also given his gratuitous services, accepting no other return than his travelling expenses, and even those on the most economical scale."-ED.

justice, was done. The press was extensively bribed-an anti-lecturer was set up-publications of the most base and delusive character, were sedulously disseminated-the colonies were in commotion, puffing out prognostics of havoc and threats of rebellion-meetings were had in the islands, and agents, staunch to despotism, sent home-mobs were attempted to be excited in England and Ireland, and some thousands of the poor slaves of Jamaica, were goaded to open destruction. It is not a new thing for oppression to make a wise man mad. Eccles. vii. 7. What wonder, therefore, when it drives the poor and the ignorant to desperation; and with what sacred pity should we regard, and with what benignant tenderness should we seek to reclaim them.

It is said that slave masters are remarkably brave: it should have been said that they are remarkable bullies. In licentious squabbles, in the point of honor, in boasting and in threats, in wrong and rapine, bold; but, in real danger, or what they deem real danger-in repenting of wrong, or in restoring right, they are as pusillanimous as spoilt children. I speak not this of all, but of the multitude. What are my proofs? Look to Jamaica in 1831-2.

They are big with defiance. What is the power of Great Britain to their violence? They scoff at it. They drive some thousands of their poor slaves to desperation. They dismiss all pity. They embody their militia, and breathing slaughter, march exultingly to the pursuit. A few hundred half armed wretches-wretches in misery more than in crime-no, but not half armed-scarcely armed at all—meet them, and they retreat to Montego Bay, and cry out for a company—even if it be but one company of the king's troops to hasten and rescue them;-the company comes, their terrors are over, they glut themselves with blood, and again bristle up and defy the nation!

Look at Virginia about the same time.

A few poor creatures, stung to that despair, which makes even cowards brave, put off their native passiveness, assumed the white man, and usurped for a fearful moment, the privilege of outrage and slaughter. They and their coadjutors, and many others, no more connected with them in their deeds of blood than I am, but guilty only of being of that same outraged class and color, perished beneath the white man's fury. How unspeakably more desirable to every just

and generous emotion of the soul, their perishing, than the triumph of their destroyers! But now, the delicate question-the question of slavery, which before and since must not be breathed, was brought, without hesitation into broad daylight, and discussed as freely and as publicly as it deserved! Why? Not because slave masters are brave as a body, but because they are pusillanimous. Were they brave, they would constantly look the whole danger in the face, as they then did when goaded for the moment to madness by terror and soon with adoring and rejoicing hearts they would discover, what a free and happy peasantry they might immediately have round them, instead of the sullen, smothered, writhing, indignant and stupified heart of the slave.

But the insurrection in Jamaica, thus produced by despotism, and thus put down in blood, was connected with other most important results:

The opportunity was too plausible to be lost-"The Anti-Slavery Society"--" the interference of the home government"-" and the Sectarians, (the missionaries,) chiefly Baptist and Methodist) have caused it all," vociferated the tyrants and murderers-"We must be revenged." The AntiSlavery Society was beyond their reach-The Government providentially was preserved from their power,--But the missionaries were in the midst of them--Upon the missionaries, therefore, they poured out their wrath, restrained only by the terrors of the nation which they disgraced. Almost all the Baptist and several of the Methodist churches were outrageously pulled down. Meetings for religious worship were tyrannically forbidden--and the ministers were hunted like wild beasts-many of their lives were endangeredseveral of them were cast into prison-against one (Mr. Burchell) perjury was suborned. The harmless Moravian. was assailed. The magnanimous and faithful William Knibb, was particularly execrated, and a "Church Union" was formed to expel the Sectarians (meaning the Baptists and Methodists) from the island. The little flock of Christ with their pastors, were scattered like sheep upon the mountains.

And now the slaveholders of Jamaica began to think their work complete, and to rejoice by anticipation in the unwatched and unbridled exercise of despotism, when all the missionaries should be out of the way-I mean, all the

missionaries who would not enter into their sympathies and excuse their crimes-of course there were some of one heart with them, and these, of course, they exalted to the skies. Burchell was obliged to fly, taking advantage of an American vessel, which opportunely was sailing for the United States-Knibb (the Baptist) and Watson (the Methodist) two great-souled Christian men, it was deemed best by their friends to send to England-all would have been ruin for the time, but for the wisdom and energy of Lord Mulgrave, the recently appointed governor.

But God was taking the proud in their own toils.

The Slave faction in England, again and again had urged inquiry. Their object was delay. They knew their own strength and they knew how difficult it ever must be, to keep together an extensive association of pure benevolence, wound up to that holy intensity of feeling and of action, which are needed in the battles of the Lord. The Government and the Anti-Slavery Society showed them how ample the inquiry had already been, and how thorough and extensive the information gained. Still they urged inquiry; and just at this time, obtained such an ascendancy in the House of Lords, that they carried their object, and a Committee of Inquiry was appointed, consisting chiefly, (as is usual in such cases,) of members of the party, which had obtained it. Providentially there was a Lord Suffield, in the House of Lords; and he was appointed of this committee.

The friends of liberty in the House of Commons, alarmed at this victory of the Slave faction in the Upper House, moved through their excellent leader, T. F. Buxton for a Committee of Inquiry in the Commons also. These two committees sat about the same time. And almost at the moment that they began to sit, arrived the persecuted missionaries from Jamaica!!!

The inquiry which ensued was triumphant in behalf of righteousness. The evidence in the Legislature against Slavery was overwhelming. George Stephen was a giant in the cause. Wm. Knibb went through the island, pouring the woes and wrongs of the slaves, into the sympathizing bosoms of the free. The nation was electrified, and the progress of political reform then in its vigor, hastened the crisis of the question. The principles of immediate