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being found among the rest of the author's matter. It is a most elegant and finished little piece; and among the most valuable of the many like separable parts of Holy Scripture. Ed.

And

The injustice, unmercifulness and pride of tale bearing. Micah vi, 8. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good. what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Do justly, then, while it is in thy power, ere God teach thee, in another way than by prophecy, and when it may be too late to practise the lesson, what Justice is! Shew mercy to others, while thou hast the privilege of doing it; and ere it be too late for thee to find mercy, thyself! And walk humbly with God; ere He may find it needful to teach thee, in another way still, and too late for the practice, what it is to be humbled!

Doth he justly by his neighbour, who robs him of that, compared with which his purse is worth little indeed-his character and good name ? Does he love mercy, who delights to inflict the wounds of slander? Does he walk humbly with God or can he possibly be doing it, who in any way seeks to lessen his neighbour in the eyes of others, that he may raise himself, or secure his own preeminence? How imperfectly have Christians yet learned this great lesson; which we find thus compressed almost into a single sentence, and that in the Old Testament! Are the high professors of this age, with all their zeal for the distribution of that book which they account God's word, in the sincere pursuit of the disposition which suffereth long, and is kind -which envieth not, nor vaunteth itself nor is puffed up, nor behaveth itself unseemly, nor seeketh its own, nor is easily provoked, nor thinketh evil of others-but is kind and forgiving, believeth, hopeth, endureth all things? 1828.

ART. VIII.—Lines suggested by a passage in Clarkson's ' Abolition "of the Slave trade. Written in 1809.

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Behold the virtuous pangs of Clarkson's mind,
O men of strife, to grow from peace design'd,
When first his soul the vast attempt conceived,
And millions from the chain in thought relieved:
Thought hap❜ly crown'd at length by Britain's deed!
Rest, Friend of man!' be thine the victor's meed,
Thine, the sweet sense of conscious duty done,
Thine, to devote the praise to HIM alone
Who gave a heart to feel, a mind to know,
And strength to suffer for thy fellows' woe,
To fathom Slavery's gulf, to call the light
From far and near, and pierce its tenfold night.

Nor less be their reward, the chosen few
With hands and hearts united toiling through
(Patient and undismay'd) the long pursuit,
While cold, computing power denied the fruit,
Or gain's blind votaries, madly rushing came,
Vain hope! to smother mercy's 'holy flame.'

So, oft, does churlish spring withold the flowers,
And clouds and storms defer the genial hours,
Till Sol, resenting, claims his wonted sway,
Chases the mists and pours unsullied day,
Bids drooping nature live and smile around,
And decks with tints of joy the sable ground.

H.

ART. IX.-FABLES, &c., IN VERSE AND PROse.—Continued.

The Cheat at the Oracle.

A man who thought himself wise went to Apollo at Delphi, with a sparrow in his hand concealed under his cloak. He wanted to know whether the priests who managed the responses could discover if the bird was living or dead. He put his question accordingly; intending moreover to frustrate the answer by strangling the bird, if need should require it. But the priest at once bade him bring it out, alive or dead as he pleased, seeing it was in his power to do either.

The Oracles of the ancients were undoubtedly (whatever we may justly suspect of demoniacal agency in them) a source of much delusion, by the management of the priests. In the note attached to the original, this fable is made to apply to the Omniscience of God. Nothing," says the author, is hidden from his sight, nor can any deception be practised upon him.' But we need not, here, go quite so high for the solution. A moderate share of skill in the science of divinationeven a good confederate would suffice for such a discovery. Nec deus intersit (says the poet) nisi dignus vindice nodus. We are not to bring in Divine assistance upon every such emergency-nor at any time for an object unworthy the Divine character.

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The poor serf, wash'd too long, was found

Cold, the next morn, and lifeless on the ground!

Beware of moral stains:

For know the oft repented sin
Cloath'd on the soul, within,

Like some plague-spotted vest at length remains.
The prophet's sentence hear,

When Israel's crimes to judgment came―
Shews not from year to year,

The pard his tawny-spotted skin the same?
Nor can an Ethiop take the lily's hue

For sooty black-nor, more, can you
Dismiss of ripen'd guilt the colour sere.'

The Suitor: an Allegory: written about 1810.

I was yet in the morning of life when an adventure befell me, which is traced on the tablet of memory in characters that will last for ever. I was walking with my companions on the plains of emulation: before us lay a country partly level and verdant, partly rude and mountainous in appearance. Knowing that we must pass over this tract, we were contemplating its nature as we advanced, and giving our respective opinions as to the best path to follow; we saw it however but indistinctly, the distance being everywhere veiled in a mist-not gloomy but partaking of the aerial tint of a summer landscape.

Suddenly there appeared before us a female, whose manner was grace itself and her voice (for she spoke often, now in soliloquy, or to an invisible friend, and then to her attendant) the sweetest harmony. In the first transports of our admiration it seemed to us that the flowers opened where she trode, and sent forth sweeter odours; while the birds with joyous notes, and the beasts with sportive gambols welcomed her approach. I have said that she had an attendant. He was an athletic man, of a dark complexion but with regular features, simply habited, and bearing in his hand such a cane as is carried by the attendants of the great.

One of the company, delighted beyond the bounds of discretion, suddenly pressed forward to accost her, but was checked at once by her vigilant usher; who failed not as he persisted in the attempt to chastise him with blows. For my own part, not less attracted but more timid and, now, forewarned, I continued to follow at a respectful distance. At length, addressing myself to the attendant, I enquired the name and quality of his mistress, and whether she were accessible to the suit of mortals, or reserved for some inmate of a heavenly abode. With an air of conscious dignity, which at once convinced me that himself was no ordinary person, he replied, She is heaven-born, and my sister. Men call her Pleasure, and me Disappointment, but they know us not. Her name in heaven is Peace, and mine Reproof.

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On earth we are companions, as thou seest; no one can enjoy the delight of her society who is not introduced to her by myself.'

Notwithstanding the awe with which his countenance and words impressed me, I was interested with this person, and began to desire his acquaintance. I put other questions, to which he gave me answers, I opened to him my heart in turn; and the more we conversed the more I loved him. Our intimacy now drew on me the notice of the nymph herself. She turned her head and cast a glance at me, as if willing to recognize me at a future time; and I thought too that a smile played on her countenance. I was just about to address her, when, perceiving my earnestness, she tripped forward and went over the plain out of sight, with a swiftness which no mortal foot could rival.

My guide, as I shall now call him, perceiving that my very soul went after her with my eyes, condescended to let me know that it was a favourable sign for me that she had gone forward; for had she retreated, I might never have beheld her more. 'Beautiful and immortal as she is, he continued, her hand is destined for that man, who, surmounting the dangers and neglecting the allurements of the way, shall present himself at sunset at the gate of her father's palace- the road is before thee; persevere and be blest!—But beware of that country to the left: smooth as it appears, and easy to pass, it is a land of thickets and marshes, abounding in intoxicating fruits and poisonous serpents. Do thou therefore face the mountain, and wind up yonder steep to the right: that surmounted, the remainder is an easier path; but think not of sitting down by the way even there, though thy knees should smite together and thy feet bleed with toil.'

Reproof now passed on after his sister, and I felt somewhat disconsolate at being left alone: but the sweet sounds of her voice remained in my ears; the smile with which she quitted me had taken possession of my heart; and though the clouds began to gather for a storm, and the road to be exceedingly rugged, I pressed forward full of hope. In my ardour, I overlooked a stone which lay in my way, stumbled over it and had well-nigh fallen. The shock dissipated my reverie, and opening my eyes, instead of plains and mountains, I found before me the realities of common life. I have been permitted, said I to myself, to anticipate in vision, what is now to be prosecuted in deed. But shall I succeed, and the heavenly prize be mine? I know not; help Heaven, I will meekly yet resolutely try" H.

Communications may be addressed, rosT paid, "For the Editor of the Yorkshireman," at the Printer's, Pontefract; at Longman and Co.'s, London; John Baines and Co.'s, Leeds; and W. Simpson's, York.

CHARLES ELCOCK, PRINTER, PONTEFRACT.

THE

YORKSHIREMAN,

A

RELIGIOUS AND LITERARY JOURNAL

BY A FRIEND.

PRO PATRIA.

No. XVIII. SEVENTH DAY, 30th THIRD Mo. 1833.

PRICE 4d.

ART. I.-General Observations respecting African Instruction under the care of Friends: Character and Labours of Hannah Kilham.

It will not be denied that the people called Quakers, have been eminently the friends of the Africans, the constant advocates of humanity and justice in their cause, the promoters of every scheme for their benefit that was consistent with their own religious sentiments. In the great work of the abolition of the Slave Trade they had (after much and long labour and endurance as pioneers) the advantage of moving, in every step of their progress, in concert with men of enlightened and ardent minds of other denominations, and under the guidance of members of the British Legislature. Thus associated and thus directed, their work prospered in their hands, and was brought at length to a successful issue. They are yet, as fully as ever, in their collective capacity, pledged to effect and engaged in accomplishing (through the same medium) the remainder of the obligation resting on them as men and Christians, in the Negro's behalf-the restoration of the West India Slave to the condition of a Labourer, and (so far as he may be enabled to rise in society,) to that of a Free Proprietor also, reaping the fruit of his own exertions.

With beginnings so promising, whence has it come to pass that, in proceeding to their first attempt at colonization on the African coast, they have so signally failed: and that not the least disposition appears in the body to resume these labours? The answer is not very difficult to produce. The individuals (for in that capacity they stood) who actually engaged in this enterprise, were few in number-they had properly no

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