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information she could from the most intelli

different dialects spoken among the black in in her enlightened amendments of the pe- Union can exhibit so early, so continued, the colony of Sierra Leone. In the attain-nal code, in her labours for the promotion and so successful a cultivation of letters, ment of this knowledge she has availed her- of general education,-Pennsylvania has as Pennsylvania. Hardly had the emiself of every means in her power, such as visiting the different merchant ships, from a high and well deserved title to the vene-grants sheltered themselves in their huts -the forest trees were still standing at that coast, conversing with the captains and ration of the friends of humanity. their doors, when they established schools individuals that may have been living there and a printing press-to teach and to be for any length of time, and collecting what enlightened: literally inter silvas queregent of the natives who have visited this re verum. Country. In this way she has been able to form two vocabularies of two different diait is her intention on her arrival in Africa to lects much spoken among the negroes; and form schools, and catechise the children in their own language, as far as she is able, and also to acquaint herself with the different dialects spoken by the captured negroes, of various tribes, collected in Sierra Leone. We heartily wish her success, believing with her, that to Christianize the African, we

must educate him, and that the abolition of slavery to be effectual, must commence amongst the blacks themselves; and this may be accomplished by raising the moral standard in their own hearts, by teaching them to know themselves their duty to God, and their neighbour.

A curious but melancholy fact is mentioned respecting the conduct of the Turks, to the persons who, from choice, remained in Athens. Those who left the garrison were honourably protected, and seven Beys of consequence accompanied them as hostages; but of the Greeks, who preferred to remain in their ancient city, three were killed, as a sacrifice. It almost surpasses belief that such barbarous superstition can exist in Europe, and among a people engaged in constant intercouse with the most civilized nations in the world.

To the members of our religious society, the early annals of our state possess a deep and peculiar interest.-They show us what our forefathers were, what they professed, and what they practised; they ilaffairs, the excellency and beauty of our lustrate, by a positive application to human mild and benevolent profession, and they furnish a powerful incentive to emulate the example and to follow in the footsteps of our dignified predecessors.

*

His

Within four years from the time that our ancestors landed in the wilderness, a printing press was at work in few months after the arrival of William Philadelphia, sowing broadcast the seeds. of knowledge and morality; and only a Penn, public education was attainable at a small expense. It appears from the journals of the provincial council, that in December 1683, Enoch Flower undertook to I have often feared that the society at teach school "in the town," as it was the present day, was but little acquainted then called, "of Philadelphia." with the history of the only government in charges, a record of which is still preservwhich they have ever exercised exclusive ed, indicate the simplicity of the period. exclusiveTo learn to read English, four shillings or permanent influence, and that too many a quarter; to write, six shillings, &c. were ignorant of the actual advances made boarding a scholar-to wit, diet, lodging, by our ancestors in the science of govern- washing, and schooling, 10 pounds for the ment and in the practice of philanthropy. whole year"-little more than what is now In order, therefore, to exemplify in some paid for a single quarter's schooling alone, degree the history of primitive Pennsyl- in some of our institutions. vania, we propose, in a series of short esSix years afterwards, a public school, says, to present such facts as we have in or as it would now be called, a seminary or college, was founded by the society of possession, or may acquire in the course of Friends in this city. The preamble of our reading. Notices of distinguished the charter granted in 1701, proves how men, of prominent features of policy, and deeply the true principles of morals and of the exertions of benevolence and philan-philosophy were anchored in the minds thropy, will be given without strict atten- of the founders and rulers of Pennsylvania. "Whereas," it recites, "the prostion to arrangement or order of time, and we may also occasionally bring into view perity and welfare of any people depend, distinguished men and interesting mea- tion of their youth, &c. and qualifying in a great measure, upon the good educasures of more recent date. The extracts them to serve their country and themin the present number, are taken from selves, by breeding them in reading, writ"Notes on the Provincial Literature of ing, and learning of languages, and useful Pennsylvania, by Thomas I. Wharton, arts and sciences, suitable to their sex, age, Esq. printed in vol. 1, part 1, of the Me- and degree; which cannot be effected in moirs of the Historical Society of Penn- any manner so well as by erecting public schools for the purpose aforesaid, &c." sylvania." Proud says that the poor were taught gratis in this institution.* It is curious and instructive to compare the doctrines of this was deeply sensible that the doctrines and chiefly, members of a religious society promulgated thirty years before, and were The first settlers of Pennsylvania were, instrument, with those which had been precepts of the Christian religion are de- which has been supposed to decry and unsigned to have a practical influence, not dervalue human learning, and to place li- at that time acted upon in a neighbouring only on the private conduct of individuals, terature, as well as painting and music, on province. "I thank God," said the gobut also to regulate and control the charac-its index expurgatorius. However truly schools nor printing; and I hope we shall vernor of Virginia, "we have not free ter and actions of communities and nations. this may have been said of some of the early not have these hundred years. For learnHence we find the early government of teachers of this sect, certainly the colonial Pennsylvania founded upon the deep and rials for the support of the theory. history of Pennsylvania affords no mate-ing has brought disobedience, and heresy, and sects into the world; and printing has broad bases of justice and truth, and for believed that no one of the states of this divulged them libels upon the government many years, her practice illustrated by, and -God keep us from both." The first made conformable to so auspicious a theopreceptor in the Friend's public school, was George Keith, afterwards sufficiently famous. His income from this office In her mild and just policy towards that the government so soon passed into other the Indians, in her Christian endeavours in favour of the much injured Africans,

For the Friend.

SKETCHES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
HISTORY.-No. 1.

The early annals of Pennsylvania are possessed of a high and peculiar interest; they exhibit the rare example of a government founded without force, supported without wars, and extended without mar

tial conquests.

ry.

Her illustrious founder

NOTES, &c.

It is

*If New Jersey may be supposed to present an exception to the above remark, it will be recollected

hands, that the influence of the society in legislation,
must have been at least of comparatively small ac-
count.

* Some further account of this institution, which is still amongst the most respectable seminaries in Pennsylvania, will be given in a future number.

seems to me considerable for the times. He was allowed a salary of 50l. per annum, with a house for his family, a schoolhouse, and the profits of the school besides, for one year. For two years more his school was to be made worth 120l. per annum. One year, however, appears to have been quite enough for the restless spirit of George Keith. Vol. I, part I, p. 104, Hist. Soc. Mem.

In

and the successive magistracy, than to hanna, from the mouth of Swatara, to the
their parents for their private patrimo-point at which the rail road line leaves that
nies." Page 151, 152.
river. This point, it is believed, will prove
to be in the neighbourhood of Columbia."
5. A survey from Carpenter's point on the
Delaware, to the city of Philadelphia.

The 12th article of the frame of government provides in express terms, "That the governor and provincial council shall erect and order public chools, and encourage and reward the authors of useful sciences and laudable inventions in the provinces." Among the committees into which the provincial council was to be divided, was "a committee of manners, education, and arts, that all wicked and scandalous living may be prevented, and that youth may be successively trained up in virtue, and useful knowledge and arts." Such were the sentiments entertained at the outset of the government, and the provisions for enforcing them. The same principles appear to have been cherished at every stage of the colonial history, of which one example has already been given in the extract from the character of Friends' school.

B.

The Governor of Pennsylvania has given his consent according to law, that a part of the line of canal along the Delaware, beginning at Bristol and extending eighteen miles, shall be put under contract. This will be done on Saturday next, and the excavation will be actively commenced as soon as pos

sible.

6. A further examination of the several

summits between the west branch of Sus-
view to determine whether a continued wa-
quehanna and the Alleghany rivers, with a
ter communication be practicable.
have been taken in all the proposed points
of connexion by Messrs. Wilson and Mitchel,
and the waters have been measured. An en-
gineer will be despatched in a few days to
re-examine the two summits which appear
most favourable, and report upon this inte-
resting subject.

7. A Survey from Pittsburgh to Lake
Erie, by the Beaver and Chenango route.
8. A survey between the same points by

way of French creek, across the Waterford

and Conneaut summits.

It is intended, if possible, during the present season, to explore the routes between the Delaware and North Branch of Susquehanna, by way of the Lehigh and Nescopeck, and by Broadhead creek and the Lockowanna, a communication which the commencement of the Lehigh and Delaware canals have rendered exceedingly interesting to a large section of the state.-Penn- ' sylvania Gazette.

From Princeton, N. J. we learn that the

Printing, which the governor of Virginia had also deprecated with so much holy horror, was introduced into Pennsylvania so early as 1686. It is worthy of remark and remembrance, that this province was, comparatively speaking, far earlier than her sister colonies in the use of the press, and, consequently, in the general dissemination of literature. I have already stated, that a printing press was in operation in Philadelphia only four years after the landing of William Penn. In Massachusetts, where learning and the arts have been cultivated with great success, printing was not introduced until eighteen years after its settlement. New York, not until seventy-three years after the settlement; in the other colonies, not for a much longer period. Page 105. The first printer that settled in Pennsylvania, was William Bradford, a native of Leicester, in England, and a member of the society of Friends, who emigrated in We have taken pains to ascertain the pre1682-3, and landed on the spot where Phisent situation of the several canal lines which ladelphia was soon afterwards laid out, be- have been provided for by law. In the sumfore a house was built. It is believed that mer of 1826, contracts were made for a cahe set up his first printing press at Ken-nal from the mouth of Swatara to the mouth sington, in the neighbourhood of the treaty of Juniata, 24 miles, and from Pittsburgh to tree. Page 105. the mouth of Kiskiminitas, 50 miles. These sections will be open for navigation in the spring of 1828. During the present season contracts have been entered into for extending these lines, from the mouth of Juniata to Northumberland, 49 miles; from the same point to Lewistown or Juniata, 48 miles; and manifesto, containing the soundest doc- from the mouth of Kiskiminitas to Blairsville, trines of political philosophy, and the most the mouth of Kiskiminitas and extending 45 miles; of these, one section beginning at TO CORRESPONDENTS. convincing reasons in support of them. about 20 miles to the Salt-works, will be The following passages deserve to be con- navigable next spring, and the remainder in We feel grateful to the numerous friends stantly borne in mind, in every district of the spring of 1829. A part of the French and correspondents who have already this country. "Governments, like clocks, Creek feeder has also been commenced, and go from the motion men give them, and as will nearly be completed this season. When pledged themselves to support us; many governments are made and move by men, operations on the Delaware have commenced, of their communications which could not so by them they are ruined too. Where- there will be about 220 miles of canal in a be inserted in the present number, shall fore governments rather depend upon men train of rapid completion. than men upon governments. During the present season, the following receive early attention. The very intebe good, and the government cannot be surveys have been commenced, and will be resting narrative, in particular, of the exbad: if it be ill, they will cure it. But if finished in time for the next session of the clusion of Friends in various parts of the men be bad, let the government be ever so legislature. 1. A survey on both sides of the North country, from their own meeting houses, good, they will endeavour to warp and Branch of the Susquehanna, from the south will be inserted in our next number. As spoil it to their turn. That, therefore, line of the state to Northumberland. the second number will not be published which makes a good constitution, must 2. A survey for a canal between the mouth keep it: viz. men of wisdom and virtue, of the Swatara and the Schuylkill or Dela- for two weeks, we request those who lities, that because they descend not ware, through Lancaster and Chester coun- wish to become subscribers to forward to wi worldly inheritances, must be care- ties. our publisher their names, with TWO fully propagated by a virtuous education 3. A survey for a railroad on the same DOLLARS, the price of a year's subof youth; for which after ages will owe rout. more to the care and prudence of founders, 4. A survey for a canal along the Susque- scription.

Literature and science received ample encouragement both by words and deeds, from the provincial government of Pennsylvania. Before one English foot had been placed on the soil of the colony, the

venerable and illustrious founder issued a

Let men

deliberations of the Convention for Internal Improvement, which sat in that city last week, resulted in a recommendation to pursue the old plan of cutting a canal from the Delaware to Washington, N. J. at the same time to petition the legislature of the state to authorize a survey of the same route, with reference to its applicability to a railroad, of the probable cost of such a conveyance, as well as to the amount of receipts that would arise from transportation.-U. S. Gaz.

VOL. I.

A RELIGIOUS AND LITERARY JOURNAL.

PUBLISHED WEEKLY,

SEVENTH DAY, TENTH MONTH, 27, 1827.

BY JOHN RICHARDSON, Corner of Carpenter and Seventh Street,

PHILADELPHIA.

Price Two Dollars per annum, payable in advance.

Cursory Observations on a late publication, entitled an Essay on the Simplicity of Truth, signed Catholicus, by J. Phipps. London. 1779, pp. 40.

(Continued from page 3.)

ren,' saith he, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.' (1 Cor. 1. 10.)

"Besides God's exterior dispensation of his written law, he still condescends, according to his ancient promise, to teach his people immediately by his spirit in their hearts. This is the true basis of the right of private judgment: and as this is a privilege sacred to every man, so it is to every religious society; no one of which is entitled to impose upon others in matters of doctrine or order; neither hath any member of a church a right to impose himself upon it contrary to

"The society proceeds no further in any case, than it believes itself necessarily obliged to do as a Christian body; and it is warrant-its established rules. ed also by the laws of the land, in showing its disunity with such of its members as break its rules and orders. This I have understood hath been publickly declared by one of the Judges in the Court of King's Bench to be the common privilege of all so

cieties of tolerated Dissenters.

"As offences against the rules and tenets of a society, though not in themselves deemed immoral, when overlooked or indulged, are liable to make way for, and lead into things more pernicious, it is incumbent on the society to deal with the disorderly, as well as immoral members, for the prevention of evil consequences both to themselves and the body; and if such refuse the advice of the church, they justly incur the sentence of our Saviour, who directs it as a duty, in particulars, to hear the church, and that he who shall neglect to hear it, be accounted as a heathen man, or a publican: (Matt. 18. 19,) that is, as one not in membership with it. This must be done by an exclusive act of the church; for we esteem this to be preceptive and obligatory to the body, as well as to its particular members.

"In this direction of our Lord, here is something besides acts of immorality to be censured; i. e. the neglect of a member to hear the church. Can this intend no more than to afford it a bare hearing, without any further observance! To what purpose would the former be without the latter? There is certainly a medium between due observance, and absolute slavery; and I should think this medium can hardly admit either of an open opposition to the rules of the church, or an endeavour to expose it to publick censure and

"The respectable John Locke saith, No man by nature is bound unto any particular church or sect, but every one joins himself voluntarily to that society, in which he believes he has found that profession and worship which is truly acceptable to God.'

As no man is bound to any church against his particular conscience, neither is any church bound to any man against that rule and order established therein, according to its collective conscience.'-'I hold, that no church is bound, by the duty of toleration, to retain any such person in her bosom, as, after admonition, continues obstinately to offend against the laws of the society. For these being the condition of communion, and the bond of the society, if the breach of them were permitted without any animadversion, the society would immediately be thereby dissolved. Letter on Toleration, 4th edition, page 10 and 13.

"Liberty of conscience is every man's right, and no less the right of every society; and as no man ought to be forcibly imposed upon in that respect, neither should any society suffer itself to be imposed upon against its judgment by any man, whatever his pretence may be. Nor is that man who at tempts it, doing as he would be done by, in such attempt, nor showing that regard to the conscience of the body which he challenges to his own. The liberty of individuals Catholicus pleads for, would prove the slavery of society.

"The religious liberty of a person consists not in a power to impose himself upon any religious society, against the rules of its communion; but in a freedom to join himself derision. to one, whose rules, doctrine, and worship, "The Apostle Paul, sensible of the necesare conformable to his conscience; or to dis sity of unity and harmony in the church, join himself from one, where all, or any was zealously concerned that the brethren them, are not so.

of

might not walk disorderly, but in all things "Every one, who hath espoused opinions

NO. 2.

himself to any other people. This cannot with propriety be stiled hard or unjust measure. Freedom of inquiry is allowed, and liberty of action is allowed, so far as can be consistent with the nature of society; which cannot be properly supported, if its members are suffered to live in the breach of its rules and orders without animadversion.

The intention of our discipline is not a dominion over the faith, or an abridgment of the just liberty, of any; it is not to persecute, for that is to pursue with malignity, and to punish for religion; which the society is firmly principled against. It seeks not the hurt of any, but the good of all, and that purity of manners, love, peace, and harmony, may, as much as possible, be preserved throughout the whole body, on the basis of

truth.

"It is allowed, that every one must judge for himself; but not that every one must judge for the church too. For, what strange confusion would this introduce! One member would demand this to be the rule, another the contrary; how should both be satisfied, and the church subsist in unity and harmony? Is the liberty of individuals to destroy the liberty of churches? Is every church to be subjected to an anarchy of jarring consciences, or to be determined by the united suffrage of its own? How shall it steer safely amidst such multifarious and clashing currents, without danger of making shipwreck of faith, and of a good con

science?

"Some things which the society esteems of moment, Catholicus deems of little or no concern, and blames it for exercising its discipline at all about them; and when any professing themselves in membership with it, show a dissent, and appear in opposition to its rules, he would have us to understand, it is the society that differs from them, not they from the society, and that all the contention and discord that ensues is to be charged to its account: for they, peaceable creatures, seek nothing but the full, just, and absolute liberty, of framing rules for the body, so as may best suit with their own fancies, opinions, and practices. By the same easy principles, such a perfect conformity with the whole. world may be cultivated, as shall produce that kind of universal love and harmony, which would render the church, like Babylon, the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird' (Rev. 18. 2.)

The anguish of the sympathetic heart is keen, but

consistently with the truth, and in unity different from those of the people called no less exalted are its gratifications.

one with another. I beseech you, breth-Quakers, is at liberty to leave them, and join

Knox's Essays.

PICTURE OF THE ATHEISM AND REVOLUTION- session of generous natures, whose general princi

ARY SPIRIT OF THE FRENCH.

Continued from page 4.

In regard to Voltaire, I must observe that he seems to have been actuated by motives of a personal nature, which render the spirit of his history still more narrow and unjust. It is evidently his purpose to make us believe that all the ages before that of Lewis XIV. were ages of darkness, and that even then, all nations except his were mere hordes of barbarians. This much exalted monarch plays this important part in the historical and intellectual drama of Voltaire, because he, it seems, while the whole earth was wrapped in chaos and barbarism, was the first who pronounced a creative FIAT LUX. Yet the great writers of the time of Lewis, and even Newton and Locke, were, after all, only the first faint rays of the coming splendour. The mid-day sun of entire illumination and freethinking, did not, according to Voltaire's opinion, manifest himself till somewhat later. But however inclined he was in the general to flatter the foolish vanity of his nation; yet, in many moments of mirth or displeasure, he spoke either from levity or bitterness, in a very different tone, as, for example, in that well known saying of his, that "the character of a Frenchman is made up of the tiger and the ape." In other more moderate but not less caustic expressions, it is easy to see how thoroughly Voltaire had studied and comprehended his countrymen. But this was a piece of knowledge which he never displayed except by accident.

his own principles-and these, however erroneous, possess, when compared with those of the other, much that is both good and noble, and capable of being improved.

per

ples are in an unsettled state. The wit of Voltaire contributed very much to unsettle and relax principle, and thereby paved the way for Rousseau. But this man's impetuous and overwhelming eloquence The last step in the progress of the French antidrew into the whirlpool of error, many whom the revolutionary philosophy, is that marked by the conmere sophistry of wit and pleasantry could never genial spirit of Diderot. I may, without question, have led astray. It is true that at first Rousseau's assume the fact, that this man was the centre-point pictures of savage life, and his theory of a pure de- and animating principle, not only of the Encyclopamocracy of reason, gave rise to more wonder than dia, but also of the Systeme de la Nature, and of many conviction. But as it was this man's fortune to be- other works connected in the same spirit of audacome the founder of a new system and method of cious atheism. He wrought indeed much more in education, wherein the development of the individu- secret than in public; he was different from Voltaire al man is supposed to be best conducted upon the and Rousseau in this, that he had less vanity of auisolated principle of seclusion, and entirely without thorship than they, and was perfectly satisfied when regard to his situation as a citizen, we need not be he could gain the victory, without wishing to be astonished to find that at a somewhat later period sonally held up as the victor. He was peculiarly even the wildest of his dreams about natural politics distinguished by a most fanatical hatred, not only of found both admirers and defenders. After having all Christianity, but of all kinds of religion. He seen that the extension of physical science contri- maintained that these are all alike founded in the buted very much, in its misapplied condition, to im- superstitious terrors left on the minds of a half demorality, irreligion, and even atheism, it is no won-stroyed race, by those terrible revolutions in the der that a direction equally culpable and dangerous natual world, the traces of which are still so appawas given by the philosophers of the eighteenth rent around us. In many of the writings of this century to the improved knowledge of men and na- school, even the name of Atheism is not concealed, tions. But however much men might refine and but it is openly stated that man can never be happy adorn their descriptions of American savages, in or- till he learns to throw aside the whole doctrine of a der to promote the idea of the possibility of natural deity-an opinion, the absurdity of which has been perfection, there remained always a few points in the but too fatally demonstrated by the experience of a testimony of every traveller which presented unsur- few subsequent years. Of all the forms in which mountable difficulties to the admirers of barbarity. this atheistical system was brought before the world, In Voltaire, on the other hand, and in many other perhaps the most singularly extravagant was the French writers of his time, we may observe an equal- theory which represented Christ as a mere astroEven Montesquieu contributed to the formation of ly absurd predilection, another extreme-one as far nomical symbol-a being never possessed of historithis philosophy of the eighteenth century; princi- removed as can well be from the wild freedom of cal existence--and the twelve apostles as so many pally, as I apprehend, because he neglected to give savages. I mean a passion for the Chinese, a people old signs of the zodiac. The whole spirit of this any rule or standard of unity to that immense collec-polished into perfect tameness and uniformity, and system, and the whole of the practical purposes tion of admirable political remarks and opinions exhibiting the best specimen of what has since been which it was intended to serve, may be learned from which he laid before the world. This was exactly called "the Despotism of Reason." An age which the single well known wish, of which the fathers of in compliance with what was then the usual fashion was perpetually endeavouring to substitute a com- the revolution made no secret-"that the last king in every department of thought and action. The plete system of police in the room of the antiquated might be burned on a funeral pile, composed of the erudition, the genius and powerful reflections of this influences of religion and morality, which regarded body of the last priest."—Schlegel's Lectures. great and remarkable writer, contributed only to in- the perfection of a few manufactures as the sole and crease the general relaxation of all principle; for the highest object of human society, and what they callspirit of the age, being furnished with no guiding ed "the doctrine of pure ethics," as the ne plus ultra rule, floated hither and thither amidst that vast sea of illumination-an age such as this could scarcely One or two gossiping paragraphs on the subject of political facts and precepts, like a ship without indeed fail to contemplate, with mighty admiration, of Adam Smith, whose distinguished name may anchor or compass, upon the waves of the ocean. the spectacle of a nation which has, according to its render the most trifling notices concerning him own account, possessed for some thousand years laws matter of some interest, and we will then release without religion, which has had newspapers some our courteous reader from our recollections, on the centuries longer than ourselves, which can imprint subject of these old Northern Lights. Dr. Smith upon porcelain colours more brilliant than we are is well known to have been one of the most absent acquainted with, and make paper thinner and finer men living. It was, indeed, an attribute which, if than any European manufactory. It is lamentable any where, might have been matched in the societo see into what contemptible perversities, the misty we speak of, of whom several, particularly John directed ingenuity of a few rational men can conduct both themselves and their contemporaries.

The tendency to sublime and elevating thoughts, even to religious feelings and views, is so strong in our nature, and occasions to call these forth are so profusely scattered over the world around us, that we cannot be at all surprised to find that many of the great French naturalists remained entirely, or at least in a great measure, free, from the prevalent spirit of irreligion, and have even here and there risen to a style of reflection much higher than that of their age. Although many of his opinions do not harmonize with revealed religion, and many others cannot stand the test of philosophy, although he himself was by no means free from the material fetters of the entire ly physical system of philosophy which was then in fashion; yet I can never help considering the great Buffon as one, who is entitled to be classed, at least in the way of comparison, with the better thinkers of the eighteenth century. Among the latter authors, I may just allude to the zealous and intellectual Bon

net.

The social manners and constitution of modern Europe, and more particularly of France, had become, in very many respects, so remote from nature, that we can scarcely wonder that a restless and inquiring spirit should have gone entirely to the opposite extreme. But how little fitted admiration and respect for nature alone are to supply human life with a proper rule of conduct, the example of Rousseau affords a sufficient proof. In regard to the feeling and zeal which animated him, Rousseau, as a reasoner, is not only superior to Voltaire, and all other French philosophers of the last century, but of a class entirely different from them. The influence which he exerted over his age and nation was perhaps only on that account the more hurtful. It is only when a strong mind, striving passionately in quest of truth, pursues its researches in a wrong direction, and embraces error in room of it, that error assumes a form of real danger, and becomes capable of seizing pos

Voltaire and Rousseau were the first who gave its form and shape to the spirit of the eighteenth century; but they had many coadjutors in their attempts, many who were indefatigable in rendering the moral philosophy of Locke more decided in its principles as well as bolder in its consequences, and in rendering it, so improved, the manual of the age. What results this produced in regard to human life, may be learned from the single example of Helvetius. This man proved to the satisfaction of his readers, that selfishness, vanity, and sensual enjoyment are the true and certain guides, the only rational ends of enlightened men, the only realities in human life-and his readers soon began to suspect that the same principles ought to be extended to the whole universe. Mind, according to this doctrine, there is none, for matter is every thing, and man is distinguished from the brutes not by intellect, but by hands and fingers-advantages which, in some degree at least, he appears to share with the monkey. The difference between the man and the monkey was indeed diminished very much in the opinion of many philosophers of this time, and it was a very faveurite speculation to discover the existence of intermediate and connecting species between them. It is much to be regretted that Rousseau did not fulfil the intention he once expressed, of openly combating the dogmas of Helvetius. He must, in the course of such a controversy, have at least been compelled to settle and explain somewhat more fully

FROM THE QUARTERLY REVIEW.

Dr.

Home and General Fletcher Campbell, were ex-
tremely addicted to fits of absence. But those of
the great Economist were abstraction itself. Mr.
Mackenzie placed in his hand the beautiful tale of
La Roche, in which he introduces Mr. David Hume,
for the express purpose of knowing whether there
was any thing in it which Mr. Hume's surviving
friends could think hurtful to his memory.
Smith read and highly approved of the MS.; but,
on returning it to Mr. Mackenzie, only expressed
his surprise that Mr. Hume should never have men-
tioned the anecdote to him. When walking in the
street, Adam had a manner of talking and laughing
to himself, which often attracted the notice and
excited the surprise of the passengers. He used
himself to mention the ejaculation of an old market
woman, "Heigh Sirs!" shaking her head as she ut
tered it; to which her companion answered, hav-
ing heaved a compassionate sigh, "and he is well
put on, too!" expressing their surprise that a de-
cided lunatic, who, from his dress, appeared to be
a gentleman, should be permitted to walk abroad.
In a private room his demeanour was equally re-
markable; and we shall never forget one particular
evening, when he put an elderly maiden lady, who
presided at the tea-table, to sore confusion, by ne-
glecting utterly her invitations to be seated, and
walking round and round the circle, stopping ever
and anon to steal a lump from the sugar-basin;
which the venerable spinster was at length con-
strained to place on her own knee, as the only me
thod of securing it from his most uneconomical de-

nius loci. They repeatedly requested me to
keep behind, and follow them softly, as the
precipices were dangerous for the feet of
men; and the sight and sound of the cata-
ract were so fearful, that they themselves
regarded the place with awe, and ventured
but seldom to visit it.

into danger. They hurried me back from the brink, and then explained their motive, and asked my forgiveness. I was not ungrateful for their care, though somewhat annoyed by their officiousness.-Thompson's Southern Africa.

The following concise and beautiful description of the excellency of the plan of Christian redemption, forms the conclusion of the Memoirs of Lindley Murray. It is the testimony of one who had practically felt and experienced the powerful support, the holy consolation, and the final promise of eternal joy and glory, which the religion of Christ, and that alone, can disclose and impart.

predations. His appearance, mumping the eternal sugar, was something indescribable. We had the following anecdote from a colleague of Dr. Smith, who, as is well known, was a commissioner of the board of customs. The board had in their service, as porter, a stately person, who, dressed in a huge scarlet gown or cloak, covered with frogs of worsted lace, and holding in his hand a staff about seven feet high, as an emblem of his At length the whole of them halted, and office, used to mount guard before the customhouse when a board was to be held. It was the desired me to do the same. One of them etiquette that, as each commissioner entered, the stepped forward to the brink of the preciporter should go through a sort of salute with his pice, and having looked cautiously over, staff of office, resembling that which officers used beckoned to me to advance. I did so, and formerly to perform with their spontoon, and then witnessed a curious and striking scene; but marshall the dignitary to the hall of meeting. This it was not yet the waterfall. It was a rapid, ceremony had been performed before the great Economist perhaps five hundred times. Neverthe- formed by almost the whole volume of the less one day, as he was about to enter the custom-river, compressed into a narrow channel of house, the motions of his janitor seem to have at- not more than fifty yards in breadth, whence tracted his eye without their character or purpose it descended at an angle of nearly 45°, and reaching his apprehension, and on a sudden he began to imitate his gestures, as a recruit does those rushing tumultuously through a black and of his drill-sergeant. The porter, having drawn crooked chasm among the rocks, of frightful "I cannot finish these memoirs of my up in front of the door, presented his staff as a sol- depth, escaped in a torrent of foam. My life, without expressing, still more particudier does his musket: the commissioner, raising his swarthy guides, although this was unques-larly, my sense of the greatest blessing cane, and holding it with both hands by the middle, tionably the first time that they had ever which was ever conferred on mankind. I returned the salute with the utmost gravity. The led a traveller to view the remarkable sce- mean the redemption from sin, and the atinferior officer, much amazed, recovered his weapon, wheeled to the right, stepped a pace back to nery of their country, evinced a degree of tainment of a happy immortality, by the give the commissioner room to pass, lowering his tact, as ciceroni as well as natural feeling atonement and intercession of our Lord and staff at the same time, in token of obeisance. Dr. of the picturesque, that equally pleased and Saviour Jesus Christ. I contemplate this Smith, instead of passing on, drew up on the op- surprised me. Having forwarned me that wonderful proof of the love of God to man, as posite side, and lowered his cane at the same an- this was not yet the waterfall, they now gle. The functionary, much out of countenance, an act of mercy and benignity, which will next moved up stairs with his staff advanced, while pioneered the way for about a mile farther stimulate the gratitude and love, the obethe author of the Wealth of Nations' followed along the rocks, some of them keeping near,dience, praise, and adoration of the redeemwith his bamboo in precisely the same posture, and and continually cautioning me to look at my ed, through ages that will never end. This his whole soul apparently wrapped up in the pur- feet, as a single false step might precipitate high dispensation is, in every respect, adaptpose of placing his foot exactly on the same spot me into the raging abyss of waters; the tu-ed to our condition, as frail and sinful creaof each step which had been occupied by the offi. cer who preceded him. At the door of the hall, mult of which seemed to shake even the so-tures. In surveying our offences and imperthe porter again drew off, saluted with his staff, lid rocks around us. fections it prevents despondence; directs and bowed reverentially. The philosopher again At length we halted, as before, and the us where to look for relief; and freely offers imitated his motions, and returned his bow with next morning I was led to a projecting rock, us, if we are truly penitent, and believe in most profound gravity. When the Doctor entered where a scene burst upon me, far surpass-Christ, pardon and peace: in reflecting on the apartment, the spell under which he seemed to act was entirely broken, and our informant, who ing my most sanguine expectations. The our religious attainments, it checks prevery much amused, had followed him the whole whole water of the river (except what sumption and keeps us humble; and amidst way, had some difficulty to convince him that he escapes by the subsidiary channel we had all the trials and troubles of life, it cheers had been doing any thing extraordinary. Upon crossed, and by a similar one on the north us with the prospect of a merciful deliveranother occasion, having to sign an official minute side,) being previously confined to a bed of ance, and of being soon received into those scarcely one hundred feet in breadth, de- blissful regions, where we shall be secured, scends at once in a magnificent cascade of eternally secured, from sin and sorrow; full four hundred feet in height. I stood where we shall be admitted into the Divine upon a cliff nearly level with the top of the presence, and unceasingly celebrate in joyfall, and directly in front of it. The beams ful anthems, the praises of the Father, the of the evening sun fell upon the cascade, Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God blessed and occasioned a most splendid rainbow; for ever. To them who obtain this glorious while the vapoury mists arising from the and happy state, all the afflictions of the broken roar of the waterfall, and the tumul- longest and most painful life, will then aptuous boiling and whirling of the steam be- pear to have been, indeed light and momenlow, striving to escape along its deep, dark, tary: as a drop of the ocean, as a grain of and narrow path, formed altogether, a com- sand on the sea shore, compared with the bination of beauty and grandeur, such as I greatness of their felicity, and the endless African Cascade on the Orange River.-never before witnessed. As I gazed on this ages of its continuance.” Having passed the southern branch, which stupendous scene, I felt as if in a dream. at this season is but an inconsiderable creek, The sublimity of nature drowned all apwe continued to follow the Foramas, for se- prehensions of danger; and, after a short veral miles, through the dense Acacia fo- pause, I hastily left the spot where I stood rests, while the thundering sound of the cato gain a nearer view from a cliff that imtaract increased at every step. At length pended over the foaming gulf. I had just we approached a ridge of rocks, and found reached this station, when I felt myself it necessary to dismount, and follow our grasped all at once by four korannus, who guides on foot. simultaneously seized hold of me by the arms and legs. My first impression was, that they were going to hurl me over the precipice; but it was a momentary thought, and it wronged the friendly savages. They are themselves a timid race; and they were alarmed, lest my temerity should lead me

or mandate, Adam Smith was observed to be unu. sually tedious, when the same person, peeping over his shoulder, discovered that he was engaged, not in writing his own name, but in imitating, as nearly as possible, the signature of his brother in office, who had held the pen before him. These instances of absence equal the abstractions of the celebrated Dr. Harvey; but whoever has read the deep theories and abstruse calculations contained in the Wealth of Nations,' must readily allow that a mind habitually employed in such themes, must necessarily be often rapt far above the sublunary occurrences of every-day life.

It seemed as if we were now entering the untrodden vestibule of one of nature's most sublime temples, and the untutored, savages who guided us, evinced by the awe and circumspection with which they trod, that they were not altogether influenced by the ge

FOR THE FRIEND.
CLAUDE GAY AND VOLTAIRE.

Claude Gay was a native of Lyons, in France, and was educated by his parents in the Catholic Faith. He became dissatisfied early in life with the Romish tenets, forsook that communion, and settled in the island of Jersey, in order to live among Protestants. He here met with a copy of Barclay's Apology, the perusal of which convinced him of the truth of Friends' principles, and determined him to embrace their profession. For this change in his views be suffered some persecution, and was at length

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