tion of the Moral, Intellectual, and Religious Capabilities of the coloured portion of mankind, with particular reference to the African Race. Illustrated by numerous Biographical Sketches, Facts, Anecdotes, &c. and many superior Portraits and Engravings. By WILSON ARMISTEAD. Manchester: William Irwin, 39, Oldham Street. London: Charles Gilpin, 1848.

This is a work of love; undertaken, appropriately enough, by a Member of the Society of Friends. The object of the writer is sufficiently indicated in the title, and both the printer and the compiler seem to have done their best to get up a handsome and interesting volume; and they have succeeded. In no single book that we know on the subject can there be found so much important philosophy, or so many interesting facts; and it is likely to remain, for many years to come, the richest storehouse of evidence on the question at issue.

The author divides his book into two parts; the first containing, "an inquiry into the claims of the negro race to humanity, and the vindication of their original equality with the other portions of mankind, with a few observations on the unalienable rights of men;" the second containing biographical sketches of Africans or their descendants. This division is perhaps unfortunate, as it separates the philosophy from the facts on which it is founded, or rather it gives philosophy and facts together, and then facts alone, the facts in both cases being of the nature of proof, quite as much as of illustration. This consideration may seem at first to detract more from the logic of the work than from the interest of it; the logic and interest, however, are alike injured. A different order would

ceptableness of the volume as to its conclusiveness. The philosophy blended throughout with the facts would have improved them both.

Even to many who have no question on the original equality of the whole human family, or of the sin of slavery, the volume will be of value for the large number of facts it contains, illustrative not so much of negro virtue as of the power of the gospel in negroes. Finer specimens of generosity and disinterestedness are not to be found in any annals than may be found here, and even though we do not need them to convince us that the black man's heart is the same as the white man's, we prize them as showing the power of truth, and as exhibiting bright spots in the picture of our common nature, a nature which is degraded by influences very different from any that can originate in the colour of the skin. Viewed in this light, we can hardly conceive of a more appropriate volume to put into the hands of our Sunday school teachers, and of others who take part in the benevolent movements of the day.

The interest of materials which are not wanted for the logical proof of the author's positions may be gathered from the following story :

'During the American war, a gentleman with his lady were coming in a ship, under convoy, from the East Indies; his wife died whilst on their passage, and left two infant children, the charge of whom fell to a negro boy, seventeen years of age. During the voyage the gentleman on some account left the ship, and went on board the commodore's vessel, which was then in company, intending, no doubt, to return to his children. During this interval they experienced a dreadful storm, which reduced the ship in which the children remained to a sinking state. A boat was despatched from the commodore's to save as many of the passengers and

Africans than our own; for the means and instrumentality employed, God has also given remarkable success. Some of the noblest instances of generous and intelligent conduct in the black and coloured races, have occurred in connection with some of the churches in the West Indies; and yet, we do not recollect a single instance quoted in any part of the volume from records published by our brethren. We do not blame any one for this omission; we are sure that if Mr. Armistead had seen evidence likely to serve his object, he would have used it, from whatever quarter (provided it were trustworthy) it might have come. But the fact illustrates what we have long felt, that the great principles, ascertained and defined by the experience of fifty years of labour, have not yet been presented to us in such an attractive form as to excite anything like general interest; and without affirming that missionaries connected with our body have absolutely more to say than their brethren, we are sure they must have much to say, if only because they have said less.

It may guide English readers to know that in the West Indies, "black" is applied only to Africans or the descendants of Africans; "coloured," to the children of all intermarriages between black and white or coloured persons; and that "creole" is a name applied equally to black, coloured, and white, and means born in the country. It is not, therefore, a designation of colour, as we have often heard it implied, but of the locality of birth.

As a whole the book is one of much interest, and from its intrinsic qualities, as well as for the value of the object to which the profits are devoted-the amelioration of the most persecuted and defamed portion of the human family we commend it to our readers.

American Scenes and Christian Slavery. By EBENEZER DAVIES. London: Post 8vo. Price 7s. 6d. pp. 324.

FOR many years the author of this volume was a missionary at Berbice, and minister of the mission chapel, New Amsterdam. Long residence amid the swamps and under the burning sun of Guiana, injured the health of Mrs. Davies to such a degree that she and her husband sought its renovation by a voyage at sea, and by a tour of four thousand miles in the United States." The voyage and the tour occupied rather more than three months, and one result is a book of 324 pages. We learn from the preface that some of the letters were published in the Patriot at the time, and met with a favourable reception among its readers; and, "having undergone a careful revision," they are now republished in the book before us, while the public are requested to form their own judgment of "the performance in a literary point of view."

In the outset we may as well state that the travellers visited New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and other places which we cannot name for want of room. They sailed upon some of those noble rivers which give the New World immense advantages over the Old. They mixed with American citizens on steamers, at hotels, in places of worship, in public meetings, and in private circles; and we are bound to confess, after reading the book through with care, that the impression on our own minds is unfavourable both to the candour and to the magnanimity of the writer.

Lest any one should misunderstand the tenor of our remarks, we may as well say that our opposition to slavery, and above all to American slavery, is as strong as that of Mr. Davies; but with the utmost respect for him and for his office, we submit that the spirit in which