The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-22


island and its people, and exhibit the introduc
ton and progress of the Gospel among them.
MISS Tucker has wrought up the varied mate
rlals at her hand in such way as to give an
terestlng volume. Her style is lively, easy, and
graphic, and much information is brought to-
gether in few chapters. 1t was not till the
year 1909, that any definite step was taken for
the Christianization of this island; when. IN
der the auspices of the Church Missionary So
ciety OF England, the Rev. Samuel Marsden,
with William Hall, carpenter, and John
King, shoemaker embarked on the enter.
prise Mr.. Marsden had, in 1892 been ap-
pointed Chaplain at Port jackson, New Hol-
land, (now Australia,) and in 1906 had be-
come acquainted with New Zealand chief
Tippapee, and, singularly enough, but provi-
dentially, as we must deem it, day or two
after sailing from England, found on board
CHIEF, named Ruatara, nephew of Tippapee.
On landing at Port Jackson, however, discour-
aging news of civil war prevented his proceed
ing, and it was not till the middle of 1914,
when Messrs. Hall and Kendall a newly ar
rived settler from England landed on the island,
and on the 18th of December of that same
| year, the devoted Msrsden first set his foot on
that shore. Among the starry groups which
on that night visited Mr.. Marsden's wakeful
eyes, the SOUTHERN Cross shone out with its
soft lustre," an emblem of that religion of
peace which was to exert its transforming
power over this savage land. Then follows an
account of the trials and patience of the set
tiers and missionaries, and the labors in which
they engaged. Tippapee had been murdered
but some were there to welcome the Gospel.
Such has been the success of its preaching,
that, at a meeting of the Church Missionary
Society in 1854, the late Governor of the island
Sir George Grey, stated it as his belief, that of
a population of 100000, there were not more
than 1000 who did not profess Christianity
Of whom $4,000 were in connection with that
Society. Taken with every deduction, and re-
garding it simply as the remuneration Of Pa
ganism, the result is the most cheering Some
affect to sneer at missions and missionaries
1t is, however, too late in the day to do so.
The records are outspread with facts that meet
the charge of weakness and folly. Such works
as this volume may do something to enlighten
them. We allow the tendency of any one wri-
ting on a favorte subject, to present mostly
the brighter, and but faint pictures Of the
darker, side. Still, when we see the advance
which has been made in few years towards
correct knowledge, we find much to encourage
the belief that greater lies in the future. This
we should say from the aspects Of history alone.
Put of; IL
at hand, when the toll, and selfdenial, and pa
thence, and zeal, of the devoted missionary,
will be rightly estimated everywhere and his
will be the higher name of honor, and higher
need of reward, than of the hero who has won
his triumphs in the field of carnage. The
ness more glorious trophies yet than have been
chronicled in the annals of the missionary ell
terprises. May this little volume, which we
bid O. God speed!" aid to usher in that day.
CASTE: Story of Republican Equality. BY Sidney A.
Story,jr. Boston: Published by Phillips, Sampson *
Co. vol, PIP. $40.
This work presents new phase of domestic
misery, consequent upon the existence Of Sla-
very and the prejudices of Caste in this coun-
try, acting upon the public mind in the free as
we'll as in the slaveholding States of this Union.
1t is written with power and pathos. The story
is original, the incidents natural, and indeed,
as things now are, necessary. Helen Dupre,
the heroine, is the daughter of Colonel Bell,
planter of South Carolina, by quadroon, who,
dying, left him two children, Helen and Charles
In order to save these innocents from the deg
radiation Of their birth, at a great sacrifice of
his affections, they are sent to village in the
State of New York, and placed, in early child
hood under the care of Mr.. and Mrs. Emery, |
by whom they are educated, and finally adopt !
ed-these kind friends having no suspicion of |
any faint in their blood Charles is placed with |
merchant, with whom he becomes associated |
in business, and whose lovely daughter he mar
ries. Helen is employed by Mr.. and Mrs.
Warner, the near neighbors of Col. Bell, as
their governess. Their son, Hubert, with the
entire appreciation OF his parents, becomes the |
lover of Helen. Mrs. Bell, whose character is
powerfully portrayed, as q naughty, unhappy,
cruel wife and mistress, discovers the secret of |
Helen's birth, and discloses it to the parents of
Hubert, as a sweet rev enge upon her husband.
And now begins the development of the iron
despotism of Caste, in its bearings upon the
happiness of Charles and his wife at the North,
and of Helen and Hubert in the South.
1t is impossible but that the various COM
plexities of such an institution as American
Slavery shall furnish materials for gifted minds
to show up the terrible realities of an institu.
ton so peculiar" and which so often necessi.
tates a struggle of the afections-a conflict of
the passions, and a war of humanity. At no
previous age of the world has such state of
things existed as now exists in this country,
and will, we fear, long continue to exist among
us. Slavery is "a damned spot" which will
not "out" at the bidding. &
We have no doubt of the success of this new
book, and fully concur in the following y %oI
the Boston Erening Transcript, a journal
whose literary reputation stands second to no
other in this country:
"'Caste is a work of fiction of the new
school of Anti-Slavery Literature, as original
in plot and detail as any of its predecessors. 1t
is written in an easy, graceful, flowing style;
the incidents portrayed are those that would
occur in good society among the up
per classes, both at the North and at the South,
where the scenes of the tale are laid. 1t is
Anti Slavery in tendency, yet the subject is so
discreetly and judiciously treated, as no+ to be
offensive to the majority of readers in any Sec
ton of the country"
"We have some negro talk, but no painful
Jo+o;Js &c onfatinn life and deuradat;Au The |