The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-15 00:00:00

Vag Conn.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert left Osborne-
boas- ,huitly before 10 o'clock yeAcrday morning, and
embarked on the Fairy for Southampton.
The Queen, attended by her suite, left Osborne-
house yeaterday at 12 o'clock, and embarked on the Fairy
for Southampton.

LOYALTY AT ALDERNEY.— A correspondent of
the Guernsey Comet, at Alderney, under date the 7th
instant, states: "A rumour having been circulated that
it was the intention of her Majesty to pay a second
visit to the Channel Islands on Monday, the 2nd
inst., s.,veral of the heads of tho island commenced making
preparations. The inhabitants also went to work in good
earnest. Some hundreds of yards of hunting, cotton, and
other materials were instantly purchased and made up into
hags. The stock of these failing in the various shops, many
had recourse to garments in which were found the royal colours;
whilst others, who. were in possession of valuable articles
of drapery—heir-looms, so to speak—for many a year pre-
served in remembrance of their ancestors, devoted these also
to the purpose. Even some among the poorer class, whose
means were not commensurate with their wishes, sewed
handkerchiefs together ; so that they, too, might display
their banners. Various kinds of frame-work were
in preparation, to be decorated with flowers, ever
grems, &c. ; and triumphal arches were to be
thrown across the principal streets of the town
of St. Anne. A new carpet, about forty yards
long, was in readiness to be laid on the spot where it
was considered likely her Majesty would land. On Wed-
nesday, about noon, some persons on an eminence descried
fcur steamers at a distance ; and, concluding them to be the
Roval squadron, hastened to town, to give information of
the tact. The officers of the militia immediately ordered out
their corps ; and in less than half an hour they were under
arms, and in readiness to escort the Queen, should their
services be required. The whole population was in motion
—hundreds wending their way to the most elevated points,
whence they might obtain a view of the harbour and road-
stead. Meanwhile, the Royal Squadron E haped its course
din ct for the island ; but, on approaching the roads, bore
away off the Mount, and proceeded through the Race of
Alderney, to the great disappointment of her Majesty's loyal
subjects.
Mr. Abel Smith had an interview with Earl Grey
ysti relay at the Colonial-office. Mr. 0. F. Davidson had
alt's al interview with the noble earl yesterday.
heron de INloncorvo, the Portuguese Minister,
Iran acted business at the Foreign-office yesterday.
Lord and Lady John Russell returned to town
yesterday from a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Bedford
at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governor-General of Canada, and also from
the Governors of the other North American provinces.
Despatches were sent off yesterday evening from
the Colonial-office for the Governor of the 'Falkland Islands.
Earl Grey returned to town yesterday from
Roehampton.
The ROYAL COMMISSION to inquire into the laws of
the Channel Islands, held its first sitting, according to the
Jersey Herald, on Thursday last. The immediate object of
the Commis-ioners was to ascertain the legal acquirementa of
the members of the Jersey bench and bar; and the herald
'IP that the inquiries were conducted with great courtesy
lad urbanity.
The office of President of the Royal South Backs
Association having become vacant, in consequence of the
decease of Lord Montagne, the Duke of Buccicuch has just
mueated to accept of the office.

ANTI-SLAVERY LEAGUE.
A public meeting' of the members of this body and
their friends was held last evening, at Exeter Hall, Strand,
die purpoie of reviewing the proceedings of the Evan-
itcLital Alliance, at their late meetings iii London; in relation
to American slavery and American slaveholders. There was
"Y re G. attendance. The Rev. John Burnet oecu-
Vtlie Chair. He was supported on the platform by Mr.
r• L Garrison, of Baltimore, U.S., Mr. George Thompson,
.
rrederiek Douglas (the fugitive slave), Mr. George
ergo. Dr. Thomas Price
"' ilkington, and several other clergymen and gentle.
ram
The CusiumAN, in stating the object of the meeting,
4"d to the proceedings of the Evangelical Alliance. and
0.0,, -e°4 a resolution which had been submitted to that body,
the effect that all might be brethren, though they held

slaves against their will, and not for their own interest.
This resolution had, after some discussion, been with-
drawn ; and hence it might appear to their Ame-
rican brethren, that English Christians were content to
allow the question of slavery to remain in abeyance. The
judgment of the Alliance, however, was not the judgment of
the British public; and it was to prove this that the present
meeting had been called. In fairness to the Alliance, the
principal persons acting in it had been lurked to attend.
Mr. W. L. GARRISON said he professed to be the advocate
and representative of three millions of American slaves; and
his only anxiety on this important occasion was that his
strength might be equal to his duty. This meeting was for
no sectarian purpose; all that the Alliance claimed as a re-
ligious body would be conceded to it ; and, when judged by
its own standard, they would have to inquire whether it had
been consistent with its own professions, or whether it was
not to be universally condemned. The Abilence claimed
to be regraded as a body eminently Christian; it
aspired to a high standard ; and by that standard let it
be judged. It would then be seen that they had
assumed what did not belong to them, and that they were in
Met eminently anti-Christian. (Cries of "No.") The
Alliance proposed to comprise every sect and denomination ;
but the Quakers, the Plymouth Brethren, and the Unitarians
were excluded. While claiming to be divinely inspired, and '
directed, the Alliance passed by the three millions of down-
trodden slaves in America • and thus gave a more fatal blow
to the anti-slavery cause than if they had been a mere secu-
lar or irreligious body. Their object evidently was to exhibit
the church in a new and united attitude; arm the conclusion
to which they came, with reference to American slavery, was
only the more melancholy. The Alliance had separated
with the resolution that each should continue to maintain
his peculiar tenets; so that, in fact, they ware as much
Churchmen, Baptists, and Preshyterians, es ever th^y
were ; and the world had been imposed upon by I
a pretence of union, which didnot exist in reality. It had been
stated that there were two million six hundred thousand
persons in the United States connected with Christian
churches ; if this were so. how happened it that, in that
country, there were 3,000,090 of slaves ? Was it not because
they countenanced and shook hinds with the American
slave owners 1 Had the Alliance resolved, es was moved by
Mr. Hinton, that no slave-owners should be members of the
convention, they would have taken a proper course, and
entitled themselves to general praise, instead of being, as
now, the scorn and execration of all good men and angels.
But they appointed a large committee to consider this diffi-
cult question ; and much prayer was offered for their deli-
berations. These prayers were no less than a mockery.
(Cheers, and cries of " No, no," and "Shame," but the
cheers preponderated, and were prolonged a considerable
time.) Had the Alliance been mindful of the Divine com-
mand, to feel for those in bonds as bound with them, they
would not have hesitated a moment in deciding this
question. If any set of men more than others
ought to have been decided on this point, it was
the American members, who held the natural equality
of all men ; and yet, because they wished to palter
with the question, they proton fed to deliberate and to ask
divine counsel. (Hear.) Ultimately, they expressed their
confidence that no members would admit slave-holders to
church membership who held slaves of their own choice and
for their own interest. (Hear.) Was not this equivalent to
asserting that slaves might be held, in certain cases, without
any moral wrong ? (Hear.) But even this did not please
the American delegates, who were determined that nothing
should be said on the subject of slavery ; the cuestion was
twice re-committed, and it was finally resolved that all re-
cord of it should be rescinded from the minutes of the
Alliance. (" Hear," and " Shame !") The American sup-
porters of slavery had come over to England, stolen the garb
of charity, and attempted to make pro-slavery men of their
English brethren. (Cheers.) Such had been the conduct
of the Evangelical Alliance; and if its acts stamped it is an
unchristian, rather than a Christian assembly, taut was the
fault of its own members. Many persons thought they
could show from scripture that slaves might be held in inno-
cence ' • but if this could be proved from their Bible, he
would put their Bible in the fire. (Cheers.) It should be
stated that three Irish and one American delegate bad nobly
done their duty. (Hear.)
The Rev. halve PRR2TON, a Baptist minister, said he
was a member of the Alliance, whatever they might call
it. Ile attended all the 19 sessions, but he certainly did not
approve of the way in which the slavery question had been
disposed of. (Hear.) He had expected to hear the conduct
of the Alliance on this subject censured; but he did not ex-
pect to hear Christianity undermined or prayer ridi-
culed. (" Hear," and interruption.) The results of the
Alliance with regard to slavery were entirely owing to thc
American brethren ; the English members were decidedly
opposed to slavery. The Americans disapproved of the first
report because it condemned slavery at all; the British
because it condemned it so lightly. (Hear.) But he find
been much astonished at the result: he considered that the
Alliance had stultified itself. They had allowed the Ame-
rican members to overpower them. (Lsughter.) After all
the Americans had fallen into a trap ; for it was still on
record that no slave-owner should be admitted n member of
the Alliance, until the whole of the districts in the Alliance
were consulted. (Hear.) He denied that any such senti-
ments as stated by the last speaker had been sanctioned by
the Alliance. . . . . .

Mr. G. Titotthsox was received with enthusiastic cheer-
ing. The last speaker had replied to himself; even he had
felt called upon to suggest, in the alliance, that the slaves
should be remembered in prayer. (Hear.) The members
of the Alliance must be judged by their own standard ; they
had appealed to the word of God ; and, with that book opeu
before them, they could have no need for deliberation and
prayer on the slavery question. (Cheers.) In the very
chapters and psalms, which were publicly read, they were
plainly instructed what to do. If they came together for
any purpose, it was to bear testimony against some of the
prevailing .ins of the world, a which slavery was one; fur
that they should come together simply to love one another
did not appear at all necessary. (Hear.) It was evicieut
that our growing connexion with the United States was
corrupting the Anti-slavery sentiment of his kingdom; and
rather than this should be the case, it were better
that no more delegates should corns to us, or go
to theist front us. (Hear.) The motto of the Anti-
slavery Society had ever been that slave-holding was
an offence against God. (Cheers.) It was a melancholy
fact th it not a single deputatiou had gone to the States
from any Christian church in this country, that had not
faltered with the slavery question, and compromised their
body at home. Recently, a deputation trout the Free
Church of Scotland had gone to America; they had com-
pletely fraternized with the slave-holders of the Southern
States, had occupied their pulpits, sat at their tables, and
commingled with the Christian denominations there, and
had never lifted a solitary voice against American slavery.
(Hear.) The result of this was that the Free Church, and
all their organs now fiercely denounced abolitionists, and
supported the slave-holding Americans by reference to scrip-
ture. (Hear, bear.) If every• member of the Alliance had
made this question his own, and had asked himself how he
should like to be a slave, trey would unanimously have
exclaimed—" Let slavery be eccursed! " (Cheer.) The
members of the Anti-Slavery League occupied no new
ground; they held, with the Americo l're-byterian Church
in 1794, that no man holding his brother man in bondage
ought to be admitted to church membership. (Hear.) At the
late meetings of the Alliance, when Mr. Hinton moved that
slave-holders should not be eligible as memb: ro, there was at
once division and discord in the body. The alliance bud first
failed in its duty in not passing that resolution ; they had
thus compromised the anti-slavery principle. (Hear.) If
the British members, as had been alleged, were firm and
consistent, here was their consistency then? There was
an overwhelming majority against the Americans; and yet
the latter appeared to hair led them by the nose like asses.
(Laughter). By their ultimate resolution they recognised
the possibility of men being slave-holders not of their own
fault. Whose fault was it then ? (Hear). They imputed
it, like the church of Scotland, to the providence of God. In
the general assembly of the Free Church, in May last, Dr.
Cunningham and Dr. Candlish hail both declared that the
American slave-holders had been brought iuto their unfor-
tunate position by the providence cf God; and this senti-
ment had been loudly cheered by the assembly. (lieu).
Talk of men being slave-owners not of their own fault, or
not for their own interest—where was there such a man ?
Would any one in Exeter-hall sanction the doctrine that
God had put any man in a position which necessitated him
to be a slave-hold. r? (Hear). The alliance had established a
precedent which did not exist before; they had legislated for
an ideal exception ; and by that very act they had com-
promised the abolition question. They had preferred union
with the Americans to compassion for the slaves; and their
hearts must have smote them while they were making that
compromise. Already was that compromise condemned by
the public. The American and Scotch delegates had pre-
vailed by numbers and by subtlety ; and it was a shame to
the British delegates to have made that compromise.
(Cheers.) The slavery question had been discussed in the
Alliance more than any other ; and yet not a syllable in
reference to it was recorded in their proceedings. By this
course the members had destroyed their usefulness in the
anti-slavery cane ; for if they were now zealous in that
ckuestion, any one might get up and ask why they had been
silent in the Alliance ? But, though Christians in England
might compromise on this question, there was no compro-
mise in the southern States ; the slave-holding members of
Christian churches held out for their undoubted right to
chain and sell their fellow-men. The Alliance had been
led away chiefly by a member who, in 1835, had taken the
ground of the utter unjustifiableness of slave-holding under
any circumstances, but who had recently sat in the chair of
an assembly of men-stealers. (lieu.) None of these men
had dared to appear in public ; or he (Mr. Thompson)
would have confronted them: and, with any audience
in Great Britain, he would have undertaken to obtain an ail
but unanimous verdict against them. (Hear.) Mr. T. then
read some extracts from the sentiments held by Dr. Cox
on slavery ten years ago ; also a specimen of the sermons
written by Bishop Mead, to be read by slave-owners to their
slaves. In conclusion, he moved resolutions declaratory of
the sin of American slavery, repudiating the doctrine that
slaves might be held in innocence, and censuring the conduct
the evangelical alliance as a virtual abandonment of the
cause of the slave. (Cheers.)
After a few remarks, the resolutions were pat and carried,
with a very few dissentients. A collection was made, to
defray the expenses of the meeting, and Mr. F. DOUGLAS
gave some interesting details of the slave-system in America.
Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and the