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wrong is said to be meditated, dividuals there who would regard as a light contribution, if it could serve the purpose of averting the interference of the British Parliament in the management of their slaves.

and whose fears are still intensely agitated by the newly discovered plot, of which they were to be themselves the victims, a court and jury are forthwith collected to try the delinquents: no time is allowed to prepare the defence; no legal as

'sistance is afforded to the accused; no means or time for obtaining exculpatory testimony; but the Court proceeds at once, without even a day's pause, to the work of trial and condemnation. The matter will speak for itself to the bosoms of English

men.

But the reader will doubtless be struck with a peculiarity in the account given us of this affair-To the name of each of the persons executed is affixed a sum of money. That sum indicates the price at which each has been appraised; in fact, the price of blood, which is to be paid to the owner of the slave who is executed, out of the treasury of the island. The whole sum paid for these eight men is 6551. Jamaica currency, or about 4651. sterling, being at the average rate of 587. sterling for each*.

And this circumstance furnishes an answer to those who argue as to the improbability that masters will lend themselves to the too ready belief of plots which must issue in the destruction of their property. The master whose slaves are sacrificed, we see, is indemnified by the public. Thus in Demerara, if we suppose the number of slaves put to death in the late insurrection to amount to 750, to pay for them all would make only one per cent. on the whole number of slaves in the colony; which there are doubtless some in

* We may see from this the extravagance of Mr. Barham's calculation of the value of the Slaves in our colonies; namely, 80. sterling each for young and old, male and female, healthy and infirm. In the present case, eight men capable of being conspirators are valued at an average of only 58. The runaways paid for by the same Court average only 42. currency, or 301. sterling.

Tothe Editorofthe Christian Observer.

Of all the objects of distress which are presented to our attention, none perhaps more deservedly attract our compassion than those who, by the total loss either of sight or hearing, the two principal inlets to knowledge and happiness, are placed in the most cheerless and apparently hopeless situation. Formerly these two unhappy classes of our fellowcreatures were merely objects of passive commiseration; for human ingenuity had not devised the means by which one of these senses might be so exercised as in some degree to supply the place of the other. But, during the course of the last century, some benevolent individuals, by their study and ingenuity, succeeded in awakening those powers and capabilities of happiness which formerly remained dormant, or had perhaps only contributed to the misery of their possessors, from the want of suitable objects on which to exercise their functions. The different excellent asyla which are now to be found in Great Britain, and on the Continent, for the education of the blind, and of the deaf and dumb, attest the utility of the labours of these benevolent men; but the number and accommodations of these establishments are still quite inadequate to the extent of the calamity. It requires an active persevering canvass, in order to obtain about four thousand votes of the subscribers to these institutions, chiefly among the nobility, opulent gentry, or more opulent citizens in London, before admission can be obtained for a candidate ;-and the annual number of unsuccessful candidates

is so great, that an applicant can succeed in gaining admission for the object for whom he is interested,,

only by the exclusion of some other, equally in need of assistance. Thus, though a number of these objects of compassion receive in these establishments an education which prepares them for social happiness and usefulness, too many remain concealed in the cellars and alleys of large towns, or sequestered in country villages; the prey of angry passions, or sunk into hopeless stupidity; at best the victims of restless idleness and vacancy, deprived of most of the joys of this life, and ignorant of the hopes of a better. And can nothing be done to extend the blessing of instruction to these poor beings, to whom may be applied the words of our great poet, "Wisdom at one entrance quite shut out?" Can no new asyla be established? The claims of our public charities are already so great and numerous, that it might not be adviseable to propose any new projects of a very expensive or difficult kind; but much might be done by the plan which I am about to propose, and which unites economy with utility. I must premise, that in the details which follow, I refer only to the deaf and dumb; for my experience does not extend to the education of the blind, though I believe that the principles on which my observations are grounded will apply equally to both classes.

I would propose first, that in some of the large manufacturing towns, or perhaps in some of the cathedral towns in the kingdom, where of course schools on Dr. Bell's plan are established, a small portion of the girls' and boys' school-room,-a form perhaps sufficient for ten or twelve children,-should be appropriated to deaf and dumb children. Proper and economical board and lodging for such children should be provided, with the schoolmistress, or with confidential respectable people, as nearly as possible in their own rank of life; the expense to be defrayed either by the parents of the children, by the parishes to which they respectively be

long, or by the voluntary assistance of benevolent persons in the neighbourhood. An intelligent young person should be selected from the upper class of the boys' and girls' school, of good ability, but above all of an excellent temper, as the teacher of this class of deaf and dumb pupils, and should be allowed from the school occasionally some assistant teachers. A small salary should be raised by subscription, in order to retain this teacher in the school. The only annual expense proposed to be raised by subscription, on this plan, would be the amount of these small salaries.

I am prepared to answer the objection which will strike every intelligent reader of the above plan, "How is this teacher to be taught?" I am not of opinion that the art of teaching the deaf and dumb is so very simple that any common parish schoolmaster might succeed in it; but still less do I suppose that there is any mystery in it, which can be unravelled only by persons of great ability or attainments. The principal requisites in a teacher are, a sound natural understanding, with that ordinary degree of cultivation which may be met with in the present day amongst all ranks; a patient, gentle, affectionate, and feeling disposition, an aptness to teach and to be taught; and a mind ready to devote itself to the subject, and not perplexed by other occupations, or prejudiced by former habits. A young teacher of about sixteen or seventeen, of this description, will be much more likely to acquire the language of signs *,

My plan refers only to the language of signs, by which a deaf and dumb child may be taught whatever it can be necessary for him to know for his welfare either in this world, or as a heing formed for eternity. To teach the dumb to articulate sounds, or to attempt to instruct them by means of the motions connected with such sounds, would, under the system I'am proposing, be a hopeless, as happily it is a superfluous, task. The language o signs is easily acquired, is pleasant to the

the necessary gentleness of manner, and a taste for the occupation, than an older person; and will adopt more willingly that slow but true method, which, proceeding step by step, omits no link in the chain of ideas presented to the pupil. A more simple and detailed exposition of the plan than has yet been published; and a series of progressive exercises and lessons, accompanied by plates, would be needful; and such books, if desired, I can venture to state, will be offered to the public, and I think they would afford almost every necessary preliminary instruction to these teachers. It is, however, an art which no set of rules will entirely teach, which must be pursued on a few leading principles, and which, whoever practises, will be delighted by finding he is constantly inventing, and discovering, in some measure for himself, with the assistance of his interesting little pupils.

The leading principles of the art are already given in some able works; especially L'Abbé Siccard's ingenious treatise, and also Dr. Watson's and Mr. Arrowsmith's publications; and I can hardly suppose that, in the towns in which the instruction of the deaf and dumb may become incorporated with that of other poor children, some of the higher orders will not be disposed to give some leisure hours to so interesting a study, and undertake to be the visitors and superintendants of this class of scholars. It might how ever be possible, in order to remove some difficulties on the first establishment of such classes, to obtain permission to send a teacher to one of the established asylums, in order to receive some instruction in the plan there pursued: but I think I am not mistaken in supposing that, with the assistance of some new publications, and the superintend

pupil, and answers every desirable purpose of communication. The reader may refer to several very interesting papers on this subject in the Christian Observer for 1817, p. 822, and 1818, pp. 468, 514, 787.

ance and encouragement of an enlightened charitable lady or gentleman, who would study those works on the subject already published, sufficient instruction for a young intelligent teacher might be obtained without having recourse to this expedient.

A deaf and dumb young person who has been taught in one of the asylums might easily be obtained, and might be found highly serviceable on the first establishment of such a class: and how gratifying would it be to see some of these beings usefully and delightfully employed, in assisting their companions in affliction!

I will, in addition to these observations, merely state, in conclusion, some of the advantages which I conceive would arise from the plan I have proposed. In the firstplace, a certain degree of useful education would be given to almost all the deaf and dumb of the lower orders in the kingdom. A preparatory education would also be provided for those of them who might afterwards gain admission into the established asylums. Those who might not be able to obtain this higher degree of education, would perhaps find some compensation from the society and sympathy of the young companions with whom they would pass their future life, and by whom the language of signs, and the manual alphabet, would be learned. They would not be accustomed to greater comforts than their own parents can afford them, and would not, after a separation of five years, be sent to their homes with knowledge which, amongst their poor relations, they can often neither keep up nor improve. The parents, brothers, and sisters of these children, would gain some insight into the plan of instruction ; and those who, from circumstances of health or other obstacles,could not gain admission into these schools, might be much assisted by the hints which the parents might obtain in them, and put in practice at home.

Two other advantages present themselves strongly to my mind; but they will be entered into fully only by those who have turned their minds experimentally to this subject. The children employed as assistant teachers will gain, in point of temper and intelligence, beyond what any one previous to experience would believe. Some of the general leading principles of education, too much neglected, would gradually find their way home to the minds and hearts of schoolmasters and mistresses: they would be convinced experimentally, that knowledge cannot be forced into the mind; but that it must be instilled gradually, in the exact proportion in which the mind is prepared to receive it; and that attention may be excited, without rewards, punishments, or emulation. They would find, that if the tasks required by the teacher, be adapted to the powers of the learner, attention and exertion will generally be insured by the prospect of success; and, what is of much more importance, they will be convinced that real affection and unalterable gentleness, will obtain for them a powerful and unlimited influence over the minds of their pupils. If I am

right in supposing that the education of the deaf and dumb would lead to these results, it would exemplify that wonderful dispensation of Providence, by which the weakest agents may become instrumental in producing important purposes; and might perhaps confirm the great truth, that partial evil is universal good.

It is difficult for a person not to be too sanguine in the anticipation of benefits from plans of which the advantages appear striking, and the difficulties small: but experience teaches, that sanguine expectations are usually disappointed; and I am therefore prepared for disappointment. At the same time I will not give up the hope, that in the course of a few years, in some of the large schools in different parts of the kingdom, a form will be appropriated for the blind, and for the deaf and dumb; and that alternately several of the children who can see and hear will, under the superintendence of a well-trained young monitor, employ and improve their own powers, by assisting in the instruction of these objects of compassion; and at the same time exercising the best faculties of the mind, and the best feelings of the heart. A. Z.

REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

A Narrative of the Sufferings of a French Protestant Family at the Period of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Written by JOHN MIGAULT, the Father. Translated, and now first published from the original Manuscript. London. 1824. pp. 182.

We are indebted for this very interesting little volume, to the labours of the Benevolent Society for visiting and relieving the sick and distressed Poor in Spitalfields; one of the members of which received the ori

ginal manuscript from a lineal descendant of its author, in corroboration of a statement made by him of the calamities which had befallen his forefathers, and the issues of which had affected his own lot. The narrative is a simple and unembellished but affecting description of a series of sufferings experienced by one French Protestant family, among many, at that awful period of French history, when the bigoted prejudices of an arbitrary and illadvised monarch prompted him to repeal the celebrated Edict of

Nantes, under the protection of which his Protestant subjects had, for nearly a century, reposed with not less advantage to their government than comfort to themselves; and by this repeal rendered their property, their families, and their lives the sport of his unprincipled and brutal soldiery.

The individual sufferer was John Migault, the son of an ecclesiastic, and himself a schoolmaster and reader, and secretary to a congregation of Protestant Christians. Compelled at length, by the accu mulation of his trials, to quit his native land, like many hundred families besides, he sought a refuge from the malignity of his persecutors, in the sympathies of a more tolerant country and in the work before us he records those afflictions, not in the bitterness of revenge, or with the boasting of a self-sought persecution, but with every feeling of Christian pity and forgiveness towards his enemies, of humility and self-abasement at every recollection of his own frailty, of firm attachment to his principles, and those of the Reformed Church, and of joy that he was "counted worthy to suffer shame for the Saviour's sake."

The original manuscript has been translated, we understand, by a gentleman of the name of Brock; a brother, we believe, of the celebrated General Brock who fell in Canada, and is now published for the benefit of Migault's descendant. We sincerely trust it may receive the notice, and obtain the circulation, which it appears to us to deserve. The translator's modesty has not allowed him to affix his name to the preface which he has written to the narrative; but we may remark, that it is creditable both to the talents and the principles of its writer. He has also added an appendix, containing a few elucidatory notes, and some extracts from the most celebrated historians of the period; Voltaire in his Siecle de Louis Quatorze, and

Burnet in his History of his Own Times. The narrative itself, was not intended to give a view of the persecution of the ministers and members of the Reformed Church, occasioned by the repeal of the Edict, either in its religious, or commercial, or political bearing, but merely to detail the sufferings of the author's own family and immediate friends. We apprehend that in this way a much more accurate estimate may be obtained of the character and extent of the trials for righteousness' sake, which have been in one age or another heaped upon the servants of God,. than from the account of the general historian. It is not by the statement, that so many hundred families were forced from their homes and their country, and driven to the asylum of a more enlightened and tolerant government, that we become acquainted with the true features of persecution. It is by insulating one individual sufferer; it is by tracing his single path along" the vale of tears;" it is by following him "when persecuted from one city he flees to another" it is by counting his wearisome days, when the expedients he adopts to avoid or to sooth his enemies all faii him, and his restless nights, when the perturbations of his mind allow him to repose; when (as the Father Migault felt it) every noise sounded like the trampling of horses, and every voice like the menace of soldiers;" it is by following him when he wanders at last "far from the haunts of men," to deserts and thickets, and woods and caves of the earth; and when, goaded by every torture that can be applied to the sensibility either of the soul or body, had he not the support of the

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Everlasting Arm" beneath him, he must be tempted to cast himself on the ground, and pray, "Now, O Lord, take my life away from me; for it is better for me to die than to live." This it is that explains to us the characters of persecution; that exhibits the condition of mar

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