The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-26


all such works our admiration is chiefly con-
fined to the pictures.
THE METHODIST QUARTERLY REVIEW. October,
1854. Editor J. McCIntock, D. D. New FORK
Carter & Phillips. For sale by Gray Ballantyne,
Washington, d. C..
The contents of this number sre-the Sibyl-
line Articles Public Prayer, the Claims of Ro-
manism, the Commences of Daniel, Brodhead's
History of New York, Faber on Baptismal Re-
generation, Short Reviews and Notices OF
Books. There is not much to interest the gen
eral reader in this number, except the short
reviews and notices, and they are excellent.
GRAHAM's AMERICAN MONTHLY. October 1854
Philadelphia: Richard H. Sea & Co.
Quite an attractive department has boon
added to Graham's, devoted to original comic
alities. The pictorial adventures of "Our
Friend James" are decidedly funny.
CAPTAIN CANoT or, Twenty Years of an African
SLAYER. By Brantz Mayer. New York d. Ap-
pleton 4 Co. For sale by r. Farnhan, Pa. avenue
Washington, D. c.
We know not when we have been more in
terested in any book, than in this auto
biography of one of the most famous slave-deal-
crs on the African coast OF Franco-Italian ex-
traction, he is by nature impulsve, daring,
| and adventurous, and does not appear to have
been subjected to any religious restraint, al
though lie has the elements out of which might
have been formed noble character. He be-
came a sailor when boy followed the profess
sion with success, and might have achieved an
honorable position and competence; but, in an
evil moment, vessel in which he sailed was
wrecked on the coast of Cuba, the crew muir
| dered by the pirate wreckers, and he alone es-
capped. In Cdba, he fell in with persons en-
gagged in the African slave trade who, soon
learning his seamanship, his courage, enter
prise, and tact, induced him to accept an agen-
cy on the coast of Africa. From this time, he
continued twenty years engaged as a SLAYER,
sometimes as dealer, sometimes as captain
sometimes as sgent-and this volume contains
the results of his experience during that period
edited BY Brantz Mayer, who became acquant-
ed with Canot through DR.. Hall, the founder
of Cape Palmas, and who, by repeated CONVEX
sations with him, obtained the materials Of the
work before us. He thought that the evidence
of one who for twenty years played so conspic.
uous part in the African slave trade. would
be of value to the Public. "Setting aside his
career as a SLAYER, DR.. Halls observations con-
vinced him that Canot was a man of unoues.
tionable integrity" This is rather too high
an attribute for veteran in SO horrible traf-
&c; but there is intrinsic evidence in the book
that Canot retained, amidst oil the brutaitics
of his calling, certain daring frankness of
character and contempt of falsehood. "The
zeal, moreover" says Mr.. Mayer, "wth which
he embraced the first opportunity after his
downfall, to mend his fortunes by honorable
industry in South America, entitled him to re-
spectful confidence"
The disclosures of Canot are es instructive
as fearful They show how the Internal traffic
promotes war; robbery murder, and brutality,
in Africa, and aggravates the horrors of its do
mestic Slavery how this traffic is kept up by
British, American, and French Gold; and by
what arts tho traders arc enabled to battle the
vigilance of cruisers, and realize profits so enor-
nous on their living cargoes. Beside all this,
the descriptions given of numerous tribes in
the interior of Africa, and their savage customs
are worthy of attention while the narrative of
his personal adventures, rather highly colorcd,
we should think, is invested with a romantic
interest.
We should like to copy largely from this
work, but have room now for only one extract.
Canot had shipped as sailing master in q
new craft, the SAN PABLO, q trim Brazil built
brig the captain of which was an enterprisinp
Frenchman, not a. all disposed to do things in
commonplace way. He put his brig in per-
feet condition, determined to pass it eff as DO
longing to the French navy. Everything was
done man bolivar fashion. His destination vas
the Mozambique Channel:
"In twenty-se7en days We touched a. the
Cape de Verbs for provisions, and shaped our
way southward without speaking a single VEG
sci OF the multitude we met, until off the Cane
OF Good Hope we encountered stranger who
was evidently bent upon being sociable. New
erthelcss, our inhospitable spirit forced US to
hold our course urswervingly, till from psak
and main we saw the white flag and pennant
Of France unfurled to the wind.
"Our drum Immediately beat 10 quarters
while the flag chest was brought on deck.
Presently, the French transport demanded our
private signal; which, out of our ample sup
ply, was promptly answered, and the royal
ensign of Portugal set at our peak.
:" AS We approached the Frenchmap. every
thing was made ready for oil hazards-our
guns were double shotted, our matches light
ed, our small arms distributed. The noroent
we came within hail. our captain who claim
ed precedence Of the lieutenant of a trapsport.
spoke tho Frenchman and, for a while. car
ried on quite an amiable chat in Portuguese.
AT last the stranger requested leave to send
his boat aboard with letters for the Isle of
France; TO which we consented with the great
est pleasure, though our captain thought it fair
to inform him that We dared not pru6ently in
vite his officers on deck, inasmuch as there
were several cases of smallpox among our
crew, contracted, in all likelihood, at Angolal'
"The discharge of an unexpected brosdside
could not have struck our visiter with more
dismay or horror. The words were hardly
spoken when her decks were in hustle her
yards braced sharply to the wind, and her
PROV boiling through tho sea, without SO much
as the compliment OF o bon Uoyage!
len days alter this ruSe descldue we
anchored at Quillimane among lot of Portp-
guese and Brazilian slavers, whose sails were
either ciewed up or unbent as if for long de-
lay We fred salute of twenty guns and ran
up to the French flag. The sslvo was quickly
answered, while our captain, in the full uniform,
of naval commander, paid his respects 30 the
Governor. Meantime orders were given ne
to remain carefully in charge of the shin to
avoid all intercourse with others n oo 49,