The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-21
VOL. X.
Gbt 8sGieh.


AN ABSTRACT Of the Evidence delivered before a See
Committee Of the House Of Commons in the yr,,
1870 and 1891 the part OF the Petitioners for the A.
clifton Of the Slave Trade Cincinnati: Publis,.sby
the American Reform Tract and Book Society ISIS
When Wilberforce, and they who 50 nobly
stood by him, had succeeded in obtaining in the
British House of Commons the appointment OF
Committee to examine into the subject of the
olave Trade, the report of the horrors of that
traihc fell with stunning power upon the ear,
OF the whole nation. They could not believe
that such wrong and outrage were allowed nm.
der the sanction of the British flag, and with.
In their domain. After the first deadenino Son.
sation was over, there was reused a spirit thu,
sounded the knell of the accursed commerce
The money power of many who had been On.
riched by the blood and groans of thousand oe
wretched victims, and political expsdiencv. all
had to yield to the cry of insulted humanity
The chronicles Of misery, from the silent paga
spoke with a louder voice, and even above and
through the din of interest and passive merc,
found her way to the hearts of men.
1t is from the mass Of evidence collected h.,
the Committee, that the present little wor. no.
been compiled. The persons who gave ,be;-
testimony were from all classes, who had ses,
the slave trade in its varied aspects and reIo.
tons. Some, too, were unwilling witnesses.
and nothing but necessity could have broupb,
them to such an utterance, and before sacb
bar. There were over sixty of them men who hal
been residents in the countries where the scene.
and facts to which they testified transpired
civil, military, and naval officers: merchant,
factors, clergymen, medical, and scientific men
mechanics and overseers; men high in rank
and station, as well as those in more humM4
hfe-and no atteTpt was made successfullyn
impugn their testimony. 1t was irrefragabs
and overwhelming. 1t only demonstrated 3
fact the Bible has long proclaimed, that III.
heart OF man is desperately wicked" and tbs,
such heart cannot be trusted with an almo,,
unlimited control of its fellow beings. witbo7,
abuse of power, more or less dreadful. Il
makes one shudder, and the very flesh to crawl
as it were, to read some Of the statements Of
these witnesses; and the reflection that ("a.
face answereth to face in the water so is The
heart of man y similar scenes, in all probab1.
ity must be enacted, even now, sometimes in
our country, as well as on the coast of Africa.
the ocean, and the Spanish West Indies. throw.
dark shade over the face of this home of the
exile and boosted land of the free.
We commend the volume to the candid re.
Election Of all who feel interested in the decision
of the question, whether we shall seek to aver
Gods wrath, or secure his blessing on this DO.
main, won by the tolls, sutTerings, and blood Of
our fathers. y.
The DIVINE Love. BY Rev. John Fade, d Lib
Philadelphia: Lindsay Blakiston 1856 For sale b,
Taylor Msury.
This, we believe, is the first work from tie
pen of the author, which has been republished
in this country. He is known as ripe Bib
lical scholar, and O. divine of some distinc.
ton, author of a Biblical Cyclopedia and other
volumes, pastor of church in Glasgow, and
Professor of Biblical Literature in that branch
of the Scotch Church, We think, which, under
the lead of Chalmers, withdrew from their pull
pits and privileges, to found the Free Church
of Scotland. The theme he has chosen for his
book isshat on which no one with good capa
city, and imbued with its spirit, could help vii
ting well, and, however excellently he might
perform his task, must leave it equally adapted
to be dwelt upon by any other writer who may
choose it for yet another volume. The love Of
God, which an inspired apostle declares "pass.
eth knowledge" is a topic that never can be
exhausted by human thought. DR.. Esdie writes
forcbly. He presents the most obvious points
of his subject clearly, and impresses the grea
truth of which he treats by many solemn aP
peal to the conscience. There is nothing har,l
or repulsive in the manner with which he makes
his demand for the reception Of his message,
but there is evidently heart that yearns to
see the declaration so precious to itself under
stood and felt by others. He states that these
Discourses, or Lectures, care in no sense crit
cal, but are meant for ordinary readers for the
domestic circle on the Lords Day evening
He has kept this purpose in view as he has
entered on no Biblical disquisition, by way Of
critical Interpretation or controversy. He takes
the simple and most natural meaning, and, re-
ferring to numerous passages of other portions
of the sacred Scriptures, devotes his endeayors
to illustrate his subject. He seeks to make
practical work and useful one and this he
has done. 1t will be acceptable to the great
body of protested Christians who love the
Word of God as their highest authority; but
we hope the perusal of these pages will not be
confined to them only. DR.. Eadie is not as
imaginative writer as DIR. Cummings, but
perhaps may be read with greater profit; for,
though all may not accord with his theological
views, which are those of the Scottish Church,
yet none can deny that he appears engaged To
do good to those who may listen to his teach.
ing. They who do so, we are sure will not Re.
greet it. 5.