Were those who see the inconsistency of Judicial Oaths with the commands of Christ, to act conformably with their convictions, we might confidently hope, that the Legislature itself would recognize the absolute nature of the command of Christ, "Swear not at all;" and in accordance with his exhortation, "Let your Yea be yea, and your Nay, nay;" adopt a form of simple affirmation, in the place of that system of swearing which has so long dishonoured God, and demoralized the people.

Such a measure would powerfully contribute to raise the standard of truth in public estimation, and thus to reduce the amount of national sin; and while it would diminish the difficulty attendant on the administration of the laws, by rendering evidence less uncertain, it would add to the stability of the Government, which stability must ever be proportioned to the soundness of the moral tone of its people.

A conviction of the importance of being faithful to the command of Christ, "Swear not at all," has induced many Christians, at various periods, to refuse compliance with laws requiring oaths: and to submit to tedious imprisonments, and grievous sufferings, rather than violate a good conscience. The Society of Friends, called Quakers, especially, endured much persecution on this account during the Commonwealth, and in the reign of Charles the Second, &c. At length their affirmations were tolerated in civil cases by the Legislature; and the penalties consequent on their refusal to swear were removed. By the 3rd and 4th of William the Fourth, cap. 49, intituled "An Act to allow Quakers and Moravians to make Affirmation in all cases where an Oath is or shall be required, their affirmations have been admitted in criminal cases, and for all other legal purposes, and the same penalties have been attached to them, in case of falsehood being proved, as to perjury." This exemption from swearing has also been extended, by a recent Act of the British Parliament, to the Separatists, a body of Dissenters from the Episcopal Church, of modern date. And it becomes all professing the name of Christ, and who are therefore bound to depart from iniquity, to weigh this subject seriously, endeavouring to divest their minds of all bias and prejudice: and should their deliberations result in the conviction of the unlawfulness of swearing, onght they not to urge, when pressed to take an oath, as was practically urged by the conscientious individual who recently refused to take an oath, in the Supreme Court of Van Diemens Land; Christ has said, "Swear not at all," and God hath commanded me to "hear him:" "Whether,"

therefore, "it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye?"

Though much more might be advanced in support of the sentiments of the writer, enough, he apprehends, has been said in the preceding pages, to prove-than an Oath differs essentially from a Solemn Affirmation,-that the British Law recognizes this distinction, that the Jews, under the First Covenant were limited to swearing by the name of the Lord,-that Jesus Christ has forbidden the use of this and of every other oath,-that the Apostle James enjoined men above all things not to swear,—that the early Christians acted in obedience to these commands, and refused to swear,—that ancient Christian authors of great eminence denounce all swearing,—that the various arguments used in favour of Christians swearing before a magistrate are futile,-that the Episcopal Church of England, in its 39th Article, adduces no sufficient warrant for Judicial Swearing, though professing to consider it not prohibited by the Christian Religion,—that oaths are not necessary for the accomplishments of the ends of justice,-that they belonged to an inferior and defective system of morality, and are so obviously demoralizing in their effects, that even heathens were sensible of their demoralizing influence,-that there is no line of demarcation between the most solemn and the most frivolous oaths, —that their demoralizing effects alone are sufficient to prove them inconsistent with the Gospel,-that the oath prescribed by the British Law is widely different from, and much more awful in its character than that allowed to the Jews, and is highly objectionable, even according to the views of the advocates for Judicial Swearing, —that legislative bodies have no proper right to enjoin Christians to swear, that by abolishing the use of Judicial Oaths, the administration of the laws would be facilitated,—that Christians are not required by the Gospel actively to obey, in violation of a good conscience, and finally, that they ought to be willing to suffer rather than to take an oath, when convinced of its unlawfulness under the Gospel.

In endeavouring to establish these positions, it is presumed, that the Question, "Are Judicial Oaths Lawful?" has been satisfactorily answered; and sufficient evidence adduced to prove, that they are not lawful; and that every other kind of oath is likewise forbidden under the Gospel.

Note. In the foregoing essay extracts have been freely introduced from Tuke's Principles of Friends, and Gurney on the Distinguishing views and practices of Friends.

APPENDIX.

D.

REMARKS ON THE INDIGENOUS VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS OF TASMANIA, AVAILABLE AS FOOD FOR MAN. BY JAMES BACKHouse, amended, by Ronald C. GUNN.

In the Van Diemens Land Annual, for 1834, edited by Dr. Ross, a paper appeared, "On the Roots and other indigenous Esculents of the Colony." That account met with attention in Europe, from the remarkable circumstance that so few of the indigenous plants of these Colonies yield any fruit suitable for human subsistence. In this respect, the Australian regions stand singularly apart, from every other portion of the known world.

The present article is chiefly a republication of the paper alluded to, but with such additions as a longer residence in the Colony enabled, the last editor to make.

Originally the plants were classified into those yielding Roots, Fruits, and Leaves, available for the sustenance of man, but here they are noticed according to their Natural Orders.

C. heterophylla is a small cress, common in good, light soil, in most parts of the Colony. C. nivea is a larger species, found growing on the South Esk, near Launceston, and at the base of Mount Wellington. C. tenuifolia is an aquatic species, common about Norfolk Plains and the western parts of the Colony.

These, as also a few other plants of this well-known family, might be eaten like the Common Cress; although generally, when in a wild state, or not growing luxuriantly, they are slightly acrid.

Nat. Ord. PITTOSPOREE. Pittosporum family.

Billardiera. Apple Berry.

B. mutabilis has a green cylindrical fruit, becoming of a lighter green, or amber colour, when ripe, possessing a pleasant, sub-acid taste; but the seeds are numerous and hard. This species is common about Launceston, growing among stones, in dry places; and is very abundant on Flinders Island. The fruit drops off immediately, on becoming ripe, and must usually be picked off the ground, but is not produced in sufficient quantity to be useful.

Geranium parviflorum. Small-flowered Geranium.

The Aborigines were in the habit of digging up the roots of this plant, which are large and fleshy, and roasting them for food. It was called about Launceston, Native Carrot. This species is very widely distributed over the Colony, and is usually found in light, loamy soil.

Nat. Ord. OXALIDEE. Wood-sorrel family.

Oxalis microphylla. Small-leaved Wood-sorrel.

This little plant, which displays its lively, yellow blossoms on almost every grassy spot in the Colony, and has acid leaves, in form resembling the leaves of clover, is very pleasant eaten raw, to allay thirst; and made into tarts, it is almost equal to the barberry. O. lactea, a white flowering species, is found about the Hampshire and Surrey Hills, and western parts of the Colony; but is too sparingly distributed to be generally serviceable, like the preceding species.

Nat. Ord. RUTACEE. Rue family.
Corræa alba. Cape Barren Tea.

The leaves of this species, which is common all along the seacoast, forming a shrub from two to four feet high, have been used by the sealers on the islands in Bass's Straits, as a substitute for tea.

Nat. Ord. LEGUMINOSE. Pea family.

Although we possess about 60 species of this family, exclusive

of the Acacia, none of them yield good edible seeds. The Aborigines were in the habit of collecting the ripening pods of Acacia, Sophora or the Boobialla, and, after roasting them in the ashes, they picked out the seeds and eat them. This is a common shrub, growing from 6 to 15 feet high, on the sand-hills of the coast, The seeds of A. verticillata, Prickly Acacia, and some other common species, might doubtless be eaten in the same way. A gum, resembling in character and properties the Gum-arabic of commerce, which is produced by a species of this genus, exudes abundantly, at certain seasons, from the bark of several species of Acacia, particularly from those known as Silver and Black Wattles, A. mollissima and affinis, and might be collected in considerable quantities.

Nat. Ord. ROSACEÆ. Rose family.

Rubus macropodus. Tasmanian Bramble.

The common Bramble of the Colony, has a sweetish, red fruit, but the seeds are large and hard: it bears abundantly in many situations in the 1st and 2nd months. The finest fruit in the Colony, however, is produced by Rubus Gunnianus, a small species of this genus, bearing yellow flowers, and found commonly on the summits of all the mountains, and also in the level country of the Hampshire and Surrey Hills. It is a small creeping plant, seldom exceeding an inch or two in height, but covering patches of ground, of several feet in extent. The soil in which it bears most fruit, is composed principally of decayed wood. The fruit, which is large, of a fine red colour, and formed like that of the Rubus arcticus, is hidden from sight under the leaves, which densely cover the ground, and is also often partially buried under the light soil. The flavour resembles that of the English Cranberry.

Acana Sanguisorba. The Burr of the Colonists.

The leaves of this plant are said to be an excellent substitute for tea. It is common every where, and well known from the annoyance caused by its seeds hooking to the stockings, and other parts of the dress of pedestrians.

Nat. Ord. MYRTACEE. Myrtle family.

The genera Leptospermum and Melaleuca are, in the Island, indiscriminately called "Tea-tree," without reference to species. The leaves of some of them have been used as a substitute for tea; but the flavour is too highly aromatic to please the European taste.

C