Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-10

IueTeu Iic, Mct tic appreciation OF ~
Almighty. For Joseph il appears, was one
of The most Jealous professors ant. exact
practisers Of the first religion of nature.
the principles and precepts of which az
forded the invariable rules of his con-
duct. No wonder then, that with the
omnipoteni Trainer Of those precepis and
principles, Joseph was mortal in bigh
favour. No wonder that God impaired
TO him the divine spirit Of his tisdon,: mses,
him as tie Instrument Of lis giory; led HIM
as it Were By the hand, through all the
crooked paths OF human life, and eveniu-
ally prospered whatever Ne undertook. Now
ii we critically examine the whole history
OF tins eminent persOnage-wh Ilc he con-
iroHled the public counscls at Pharaoh
and tie Lord m0s nth kim-and that
Which he did The Lord made IL TO prosper -
Joseph was The most ertensire purchaser
Of african StareS hat erer eaiSted. Joseph
inconies,abiy bough, more Airran ser
wants at one sale Than befong to all lie
sfdce holders an this confederaied empire -
The fact OF such purchase is thus mar
rated in the eth chapter of the Book OF
Genesis.
-. And there was no bread i'm all the land !;
for the famine was very sore ; so that the land
OF Egypt and the land of Canaan tainted by
reason OF the famine.
IA. And Joseph gathered mp all the money
that was found in the land Of Egypt, and in
the land of Canaan, for the corn which they
bought, and Joseph brought the money into
Pharaoh's house
Il. Ard when the money failed in the land
of Egypt and in the land o.. Canaan, all the
Egyptians cane unto Joseph and said, give MS
bread. for why should we die in thy presence
for the money faileth.
l6. And Joseph said. give your cattle: aud
will give you food for your cattle if money
fail
~. And they brought their cattle unto Jo-
seph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange
tor horses, aud for The t3ecks, aud for the cat
tie OF the herds, and for the asses: aud he ted
them with bread for all their cattle, for that
year.
Is. When that year was ended, they came
unto him the second year and said unto him,
we VIII not hide ii from my Lord how that our
money is spent: my Lord also hath our herds
OF cattle; there is not aught left i'm the sight
of my Lord but our bodies and our lands.
l9. Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes,
both we and our lands1 Buy us, and our land
for bread, and we and ONT land will he servants
unto Pharaoh: and give us seed that VI may
live aud not die: that the land be not desc
late.
30. And Joseph bought all the land Of Egypt
for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every
man his field; because the famine prevailed
over them: so the land became pharaoh's.
Il. And as tor the people, lie removed them
into cities from one aud Of the borders OF
Egypt. even TO the other end thereof.
p. Only the land OF the priests bought he
not: fer the priests lad a portion assigned
them of Pharaoh; and did eat the portion
winch Pharaoh gave them; wherefore they
sold not their lands.
%. Then Joseph said unto the people. be-
hold hare bought you, this day, and your land
for Pharaoh: 10 here is seed for YOU and We
shall SOW the land.
"a. And il shall come 10 pass in the increase.
that We shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh
and tour parts shall he your own, for seed of
the field, aud for your food and for Them of
your households, and for food for your little
ones.
%. And they said, thou hast saved our lives.
let us find grace in tile sght of my Lord and
ice ,riH be Phuraoh's SERVANTS.
Thus by most deliberate and explicit
contract, Joseph, who himself had been
twice sold as mental servant, bought al
once the entire Laity oftliis African king
dom. This prodigious speculation in
boudmen was effected for the moderate
consideration OF one years maintenance
for each servant. After the bargain and
the purchase was on both sides ratified
these African meniaIs were by the great
overseer, Joseph, managed discreeiIy.-
10 distribute them commodiously, 10
plantaiioDs-he separated and "removed
them into remote cities-from one end of
Egypt even TO the other end thereof -
so that their number must have been
vast. Even supposing thai ancient Egypt
did not then transcend lis modern limits
that is about 600 miles from north TO
south, by $50 miles from east TO west :
sill on moderate computation, ii then
nh4l1 lxff cd 4.
as now people The United States al any
rate Egypt was then populous: because
Egypt i'm that age was The emporium of
the wOild-the seat of agriculture. COM
merce, manufactures, the fine arts, and
The exact sciences (; the cradle of iheolo
gy, astronomy, and natural philosophy.
Ancient writer's affirm that Egypt had
then attained 10 degree OF civilization
and refinement, unexceeded, according
TO them, by any modern nation. As to
the terms and the absolute tenure by
which this great gang IF africans was
hcid to Involuntary se,picezjt is evident
that both the buyer and those that were
bought perfectly understood The nature
OF the bargain and sale for Joseph said
unto them" behold, ] have bought non
this day"-and they said" We wiH be
PhHaOhS servants"
Now, mol single sentence do we find
IN the sacred writings That tends in the
most distant manner. TO dlsapprove ofaDy
one part of the conduct of this ilusfrious
slave-bmyer, touching this or any other
transaction executed during his long and
holy life. On the contrary, in every text
OF scripture in which Joseph is mention
ed, as well after as before this purchase,
he Is invariably represented as one of the
most faithful and acceptable servants of
the Almighty, under whose special pro-
lection all the inspired writer's who name
him say that he lived and prosper ed, and
by whose immediate direction il appears
he acted. Nay, The very transaction, of