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14th chapter of John, and the descriptions of heaven in the Revelation, were his favourite parts.

Though he was very weak he frequently startled his friends by crying out, "Hallelujah! Glory be to Jesus! He was very particular about prayer, and it was a great cross to him when he became too weak to bow his knees night and morning. He did not seem to think much of death, but rather to look beyond, and anticipate the joy of heaven. He died in peace on the 27th of April, 1855, his last words were, "Jesus is mine, heaven is my home! God bless my wife and child-I can leave them now-for glory."

So died Anthony Robinson, leaving a bereaved widow and infant son to mourn his loss. May his prayer for them be answered, “God be a father to the fatherless, and a husband to the widow."

MRS. ARTHUR, OF POLRUAN.

T. A. BAYLEY.

The following account of Mrs. Arthur's early history, given by herself, (though not with the intention of its ever becoming public) will, perhaps be interesting to those of her friends and relations who now mourn their loss, and it is hoped will afford some instructive lessons to those who are now living in the broad sunshine of Gospel day.

She was not favoured with the example and instruction of pious parents, and grew up in ignorance of her state as a sinner, her responsibility to God, and the need of preparation for death and eternity. While in this state, it pleased the Lord to lay his afflicting hand upon her, and then she felt that she was not fit to die, and promised the Lord, that if He would raise her up, she would live a different life: but alas! these good resolutions were as "the morning cloud, or the early dew, which soon passeth away," As health returned, she again entered into the pleasures and vanities of the world, and vainly endeavoured to seek from them happiness, which she afterwards found was only to be enjoyed in religion. Her favourite amusements at this time were reading novels, and playing at cards, and having no one to take her by the hand and point her the right way, she still continued to pursue a course of sin, until (that God, who desireth not the death of a sinner, again arrested her by affliction, and then) she said, "My sins stood before me as in battle array, and what weighed most heavily was, that I had broken my former promise, and now I thought I shall die and be lost for ever, in a few hours I shall be lifting up my eyes in endless torments." These reflections distressed her exceedingly, and her friends endeavoured to comfort her in vain; alas! they knew not the disease, and therefore could not apply the remedy. Oh how earnestly, she remarked, did I long for some one to come and pray for me and tell me, what I must do to be saved. But at that time there were few to be found who could point the sinner to "the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world," and in regard to outward help she had to grope her way; but God, who is rich in mercy to all who call upon him; and is never sought in vain, did not long suffer her prayers to remain unanswered; but in a dream he was pleased to show her the gate of heaven, and to assure her that He was willing to receive her into it; she awoke comforted, and resolved from that time heaven should be the object of her pursuit. By the grace of God she was enabled to keep this determination, and as a first step towards breaking off her old practices, as soon as she recovered, she gathered all her novels, cards, and light books together and committed them to the flames. The peace and satisfaction she felt in seeing them consume, encouraged her to believe she had taken a right step, and that the Lord would help her to serve Him. From that time she walked in the fear of the Lord, and though destitute of a preached

Gospel, the Lord granted to her the help of His Spirit, which led her to avoid those things which she knew to be displeasing in His sight. And when she entered into the married state with Mr. Arthur, they determined not to follow the vain customs of the world, and amongst them was placed Sunday visiting, which was then much practised in the parish, but seeing it to be an evil, they determined to abandon it.

Soon after this, Methodist preaching was introduced into the parish, and was hailed by them with delight, and they were amongst the first who united themselves with that people, each of them said "This people shall be my people, and their God my God."

Thus far is the account given by herself; the remainder is from a friend who met in class with her for some years, who says 'During the time it was my privilege to meet in class with her, her experience was that of the humble Christian, relying simply yet confidently on the merits of Christ for salvation, and wondering at his boundless love to such an unworthy sinner; often breaking out in the language of the poet, and saying

"Oh how shall I the goodness tell,

Father, which thou to me hast show'd?
That I, a child of wrath and hell,

I should be called a child of God!

Should know, should feel my sins forgiven,
Blessed with this antepast of heaven."

The footstool of mercy seemed to be the place where she delighted to dwell, and whilst there, she could often tell of such manifestations as only those enjoy who closely walk with God. She would often speak of the blessed seasons she enjoyed whilst pouring out her heart in private before God. These seemed to be her happiest moments, and she often found the truth of what the poet expressed, when he said: Prayer, ardent prayer, opens heaven! and lets a stream of glory down upon the consecrated hour of man in audience with the Deity." Never shall I forget the sweet confidence she expressed, when once I visited her in affliction; she said,

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"Not a cloud doth arise, to darken the skies,.
Or hide for a moment the Lord from my eyes."

Her end was peace.

RECENT DEATHS.

MRS. ANN PEAK departed this life on the 17th of October, 1855, aged seventy-seven years. She was born at Burton-on-Trent in the year 1778. Of her early history but little is known, except that she had a most exemplary mother, who taught her the principles of Christianity, and, what is better, lived them. Under the never-to-be-forgotten William Bramwell, our sister was soundly converted to God at the early age of fifteen, and maintained with admirable and rare consistency her Christian course to the end of life. She took for her motto the beautiful sentiments of the poet"Fight the fight, Christian,

Jesus is o'er thee;
Run the race, Christian,
Heaven is before thee.
Onward, and onward still
Be thine endeavour ;
The rest that remaineth
Shall be for ever."

Hence, "her path was that of the just, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." When she reached the age of twenty-one, she married "in the Lord," and with her husband walked with God for upwards of half a century (about fifty-six years). A short memoir of Mr. Peak appeared, early in the present year, in the pages of our valuable

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Magazine. Her piety was not of a timid, distrustful, or murmuring cast;
but in the midst of trials and afflictions, she knew experimentally "that the
name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it, and is
safe; and they that know thy name shall put their trust in thee." Her
faith was proved by her works. She was liberal to the cause of God, and
ever responded to the claims of the poor, by whom her loss will be severely
felt. As her leader, I had frequent opportunities of spiritual intercourse
with her. She was generally cheerful and buoyant, but still desiring “to
depart and be with Christ, which is far better." As she drew near the
end of life, she gradually ripened for the garner. Her last illness was
short. After two days' confinement to her bed from inflammation of the
lungs, she rapidly sank into the arms of death. Being asked if all was
well, she feebly muttered an affirmation of the delightful fact, and then
exchanged the cross for the crown, the wail of feebleness for the shout of
victory, earth for immortality. "Blessed are the dead which die in the
Lord."
H. TARRANT. 14

As

MRS. ELLEN BURSTALL THOMPSON, late wife of the Rev. J. Thompson, died in peace on the 10th December, 1855, aged sixty-seven years. brief a memoir as her forty-years' Christian and Methodistic life will admit of, may be expected in due time, if I am spared.

J. T.

REVIEW AND CRITICISM. Autobiography. By Rev. S. R. WARD. London: JOHN SNOW, 35, Paternoster Row.

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The most remarkable Negro, after Dr. Pennington, that has visited this country, we believe, is the Rev. S. R. Ward, The work before us is Mr. Ward's Autobiography. He seems to have been moved to publish "Memoirs of Himself" by various eminent individuals, among whom, Drs. Campbell and Massie, occupy a prominent position. The worthy Publisher appears to have performed a generous part in furthering the object. The work is dedicated to the Duchess of Sutherland, and the Author, in the Dedication, pays a wellmerited tribute to the Anti-Slavery sympathies of the British Nation. ! "I should not," says he, "have been emboldened to attempt the authorship of this volume, had it not been for a conviction, sustained by unmistakeable tokens, that in all classes, from the prince to the peasant, there is a chord of sympathy, which vibrates to the appeals of my suffering people."

The public are indebted to the Publisher, we presume, for a very striking likeness of the Author. The reader will find an open countenance, in which the "facial angle,”—about which so much has been said whenever Negro gifts and idyosyncracies, have been on the tapis, surmounted with a forehead high enough and broad enough, when viewed from a phrenological stand point, for even a Caucasian celebrity.

The Autobiography is distinguished by a certain air of manliness which we greatly admire, especially in a member of a despised and down-trodden race. Mr. Ward seems to have no fear of calling things by their proper names. In allusion to the more outspoken parts of the work, he says

It will be seen that I have freely made remarks upon other things than Slavery, and compared my own with other peoples. I did the

former as a MAN, the latter as a NEGRO. As a Negro, I live and therefore write for my people; as a Man, I freely speak my mind upon whatever concerns me and my fellow-men. If any one be disappointed or offended at that, I shall regret it: all the more, as it is impossible for me to say that, in like circumstances, I should not do just the same thing again.

Mr. Ward, it appears, was born in Slavery, but saved from it by the flight of his parents; and it is not only natural, but right, that he should manifest towards it, in all its aspects, an immitigable abhorrence. Now this, so far from being a blemish, is, in our humble opinion, one of the chief excellences of the work. We confess to a decided predilection for what is real and earnest. We have no sym

pathy with that morbid sensibility which is shocked by the clear and forcible expressions, which nature prompts the victims of some horrible outrage to utter on their own behalf, or on behalf of others. Nor do we think that such passages as we are now alluding to, will require the least palliation in the estimation of the British public. It will be interesting to our readers to peruse some of those passages. Take then the following

ON HIS STRUGGLES AGAINST THE PREJUDICE OF COLOUR.

I grew up in the city of New York, as do the children of poor parents in large cities too frequently. I was placed at a public school in Mulberry-street, taught by Mr. C. C. Andrew, and subsequently by Mr. Adams, a Quaker gentleman, from both of whom I received great kindness. Dr. A. Libolt, my last preceptor in that school, placed me under lasting obligations. Poverty compelled me to work, but inclination led me into study; hence I was enabled, in spite of poverty, to make some progress in necessary learning. Added to poverty, however, in the case of a black lad in that city, is the ever-present, ever-crushing Negro-hate, which hedges up his path, discourages his efforts, damps his ardour, blasts his hopes, and embitters his spirits. Some white persons wonder at and condemn the tone in which some of us blacks speak of our oppressors. Such persons know but little of human nature, and less of Negro character, else they would wonder rather that, what with Slavery and Negro-hate, the mass of us are not either depressed into idiotcy, or excited into demons. What class of whites, except the Quakers, ever spoke of their oppressors or wrong-doers as mildly as we do? This peculiarly American spirit was ever at my elbow. As a servant, it denied me a seat at the table with my white fellow-servants; in the sports of childhood and youth, it was ever disparagingly reminding me of my colour and origin; along the streets it ever pursued, ever ridiculed, ever abused me. If I sought redress, the very complexion that I wore was pointed out as the best reason for my seeking it in vain; if I desired to turn to account a little learning, the idea of employing a black clerk was preposteroustoo absurd to be seriously entertained. I never knew but one coloured clerk in a mercantile house. Mr. W. L. Jeffers was lowest clerk in a house well known in Broad-street, New York; but he never was advanced a single gråde, while numerous white lads have since passed up by him, and over him, to be members of the firm. Poor Jeffers, till the day of his death, was but one remove above the porter. So, if I sought a trade, white apprentices would leave if I were admitted; and when I went to the house of God, as it was called, I found all the Negro-hating usages and sentiments of general society there encouraged and embodied in the Negro pew, and in the disallowing Negroes to commune until all the whites, however poor, low, and degraded, had done. I know of more than one coloured person driven to the total denial of all religion, by the religious bar

barism of white New Yorkers, and other Northern champions of the Slaveholder.

The following paragraph, depicting his anxious feelings in relation to his parents, whom he had regarded as living in constant danger of being caught within the meshes of the Fugitive Slave Law, is in a somewhat different style. He says—

I knew that there was no living claimant of my parents' bodies and souls; I knew, too, that neither of them would tamely submit to reenslavement; but I also knew, that it was quite possible there might be creditors, or heirs at law; and that there is no State in the American Union wherein there were not free and independent, democratic republicans, and soi disant Christians, "ready, aye ready," to aid in overpowering and capturing a runaway for pay. But when God was pleased to take my father in 1851, and my mother in 1853, I felt relief from my greatest earthly anxiety. Slavery had denied them education, property, caste, rights, liberty; but it could not deny them the application of Christ's blood, nor an admittance to the rest prepared for the righteous. They could not be buried in the same part of a common graveyard with whites in their native country; but they can rise at the sound of the first trump in the day of Resurrection. Yes, reader, we who are slave-born, derive a comfort and solace from the death of those dearest to us, if they have the sad misfortune to be BLACKS and AMERICANS, that you know not. God forbid that you or yours should ever have occasion to know it.

The work is well worthy of perusal. It narrates the incidents of a remarkable life, and the history of one of the most important movements of the age. We wish the Author the best success in life, and his excellent book an extensive circulation.

Sketches from the Cross, by J. J. DAVIES. London: WARD AND Co., Paternoster-row.

This is the name of a work, in which, the Author reviews the Characters connected with the Crucifixion of our Lord. The work consists of Eighteen Sketches. The subject of the first sketch is Judas, who betrayed Jesus, and that of the last, our Lord Himself,as the Model Character. To the "Sketches from the Cross," are added some notices of the Character of Balaam. The volume is full of variety and of interest. Each character is sketched with the skill of one who knows his work. Take as an illustration the following citation.

ON THE STRENGTH AND CONSTANCY OF WOMAN'S AFFECTION. The conduct of the women on the occasion of the death and resurrection of their Lord, strikingly indicates THE STRENGTH AND CONSTANCY OF THEIR AFFECTION. This is one point in which the conduct of the women, as presented to us in the sacred narratives, appears to me so beautifully characteristic. It has often been remarked, that if, in general, woman be not equal to man in mental capacity, she surpasses him in ardour of affection. Herein lies her strength, and her weakness too; it constitutes her excellence and her glory; but, at the same time, it exposes her to temptation and reduces her the more readily to the extremes of wickedness.

Hence, we find amongst women, the very best and the very worst of human beings. They are found at the very summit of human excellence, the brightest ornaments of humanity, the richest blessings of society. They are found at the very base of the social system, moving in the lowest depths, and amidst the darkest shades of wickedness; the lowest of the

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