THE SLAVE'S APPEAL. BY HENRITTA GAY LEGGETT. We are toiling, while the burning sun Is heard from natures overtasked- We bow in meekness to the wrong, Think ye we love not? yes, the God Though many are the cares and wrongs The selling of their little ones Think ye we pray not? yes, we turn And though our masters fear the grave, To dwell, where wrong can never come, -Frederick Douglass' Paper. Amid the noblest of the land In the great minster transept, And the sweet choir sings, and the organ rings This was the greatest warrior Traced with his golden pen On the deathless page, truths half so sage As he wrote down for men. And had he not high honours? To lie in state, while angels wait And the dark rock-pines like tossing plumes And God's own hand, in that lonely land, In that deep grave, without a name, Shall break again-oh! wondrous thought!- Shall stand with glory wrapped around And speak of the strife that won our life O lonely tomb in Moab's land! O dark Beth-peor's hill! Speak to these curious hearts of ours God hath his mysteries of grace, Ways which we cannot tell; He hides them deep, like the secret sleep Of him he loved so well. -Burritt's Citizen of the World. (Furnished by a friend from memory.) LINES ON THE BURIAL OF MOSES. Br Nebo's lonely mountain On this side Jordan's wave, In a vale-in the land of Moab- And no man dug that sepulchre, For the angels of God upturned the sod, And laid the dead man there. This was the grandest funeral But no man heard the trampling, Noiselessly as the daylight Comes when the night is done, Or the crimson streak on ocean's cheek Grows into the great sun. Noiselessly as the spring-time. And all the trees on all the hills, So, without sound of music, Or voice of them that wept, Silently down from the mountain's crown, On gray Beth-peor's height," Looked on the wondrous sight, Perchance the lion stalking, Still shuns the hallowed spot, For beast and bird have seen and heard That which man knoweth not. But when the warrior dieth, His comrades in the war With arms reversed, and muffled drum, They show the banners taken, They tell his battles won; And after him lead his masterless steed, While peals the minute gun. THE CLOUDY DAY. BELOVED! though the voice of my love Condescend in His pity to hear theeEncompass thy dwelling, enlighten thy path, And avert, in His mercy, the vials of wrath. Of old, when the Lord was asleep In the stern of the ship, on a pillow, His disciples called on him to keep Them alive in the midst of the billow. He graciously rose, saying, "Peace, be ye still;" The turbulent waves could resist not His will. Though the weeds may be wrapped round thy head; Though the surges around thee are tossing; Though no light on thy footsteps is shed; Though wild beasts thy path may be crossingYet bow in submission-yet kiss thou the rod, And humbly acknowledge the hand of thy God. The Lord doth afflict us, to prove That all that's of earth must be shaken; But He will return in His love, And show thee thou art not forsaken. Thy God in Christ Jesus thy riches shall be, O then, my beloved! depend On the arm of His glorious power; Thy only unchangeable Friend, Who has passed through affliction's dark hour. Remember His message, remember his word 'Tis enough that the servant should be as his Lord! S. F. The British Friend has been registered at the General THE BRITISH FRIEND. GLASGOW, 1ST MONTH, 1ST, 1858. TO OUR READERS. of the Society at large, The British Friend does good service to the cause of Truth. There is yet another important feature in your publication to be especially noted. I can speak for myself, and have much pleasure in acknowledging that I have derived gratification and instruction from a perusal of your journal. Many valuable MSS., in the hands of private Friends, kindly placed at your disposal, besides others of a similar kind, reprints from scarce or little-known works, which your own discrimination and research have supplied, but for the publicity given them in your columus, in all probability would have remained in the hands of their possessors, or have had but a limited circulationdocuments such as these, replete with excellent counsel dictated by heavenly wisdom, are eminently calculated to inform and direct the youthful pilgrim on his course, or to sustain and confirm the more experi enced traveller Zionward. As customary with us, on the occasion of presenting our readers with the opening number of another Volume, it was our. intention at this time to have availed ourselves of the privilege of briefly addressing you. I trust, then, that The British Friend, in its conBut just as we were about to fulfil our intention, we servative character, as the avowed advocate and dereceived the following unexpected and unsolicited fender of Quakerism pure and simple, the glorious communication; which, embodying so much of what heritage of our forefathers, may exist as a standing we should probably have said, we prefer giving, in pre-institution amongst us; that its conductors may be ference to anything of our own; remembering the Scripture exhortation: "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips": "THE BRITISH FRIEND"-1T3 Past career and SERVICE. ESTEEMED FRIENDS,-I inclose my subscription for the coming year, wishing you success and encouragement in your vocation as journalists. Various are the changes which have occurred since the date of your first publication; and not a few faithful labourers in the vineyard of their Lord and Master, who were "found valiant for the Truth upon the earth," have been gathered to their eternal rest. As time progresses, I am reminded by each succeeding volume of The British Friend, that your editorial career has extended over a considerable space of time, to be continued, I trust, to the benefit of your readers and the Society, to the promotion of whose interests your efforts have been especially directed. As journalists you may not have experienced a large measure of what may be termed commercial success -a result scarcely to be expected in the present condition of our religious Society, and from the conservative principles which have ever been the characteristic of your publication. Estimating weight, rather than numbers, as the true measure of value, and the moral influence which invariably accompanies the dictates of true wisdom, you may yet point with allowable satisfaction to the fifteen goodly volumes of The British Friend, as the record and result of your conscientious endeavours to uphold the original principles of our religious Society, to "strengthen the things which remain and are ready to die," and to "gather up the fragments that nothing be lost." A periodical such as yours I consider a desideratum-its advantages more than counterbalanced by such imperfections as are incidental to all human undertakings. In tracing the progress of our religious Society-the movements of its ministers in the service of the gospel at home and abroad-the controversies which have agitated our borders on both sides of the Atlantic-the proceedings of our yearly and other meetings, and such other matters of a philanthropic and general character of concernment to Friendsyour columns are full of interest. As a medium, also, for intercommunication with individual members, on such subjects as have their peculiar interest for each, and which affect more or less the well-being stimulated and encouraged to pursue their course undismayed by the Sanballat-like taunts of their opthe result of their labours may not presently be very ponents, sustained by the reflection that, although tangible or visible, yet, like bread cast upon the waters, it shall be found after many days.-I remain, your sincere friend, X. 12th Month, 10th, 1857. To the above, we must not omit to add our thanks to our Subscribers and Friends, for their support, and to solicit its continuance; assuring them, that our best endeavours shall, as heretofore, be used to make our Journal worthy of their approbation, as well as useful to the Society at large. LONDON UNION OF FRIENDS' FIRST-DAY SCHOOLS.It may be interesting to some of our readers to be informed that, after several conferences on the subject, the committees of the First-day schools in and near London, met at the Reading Rooms, Gracechurch Street, on the 17th of 12th Month last, when they decided to form an Association to promote the interests of the First-day School movement in the metropolis, and for mutual assistance. Teachers were present from each of the five schools now established and, after a warm and interesting discussion, the following rules were adopted :- d; 2. That the Association have no authority whatever over the management or conduct of the several schools of which, for the time being, it may be composed. 3. That the Association be composed of the committees, officers, and teachers of the said schools. 4. That one teacher, nominated by each of the said schools, to be annually appointed at the meeting of the Association, held in the 2d Month, form the committee of management upon whom the responsibility of calling the meeting of the Association shall rest, and to whom all propositions and papers to be dis cussed or read at the meetings of the Association, are to be sent for approval seven days at least before each meeting. 5. That the Association meet three times in the year in the 2d, 6th, and 10th Months, and the committee of management at least once in every four months. 6. That the committee of management have power of calling special meetings at the written request of five teachers, the object of such meetings to be specified in the notices. 7. That the said schools report in writing to each general meeting the average monthly attendance since the last meeting, with liberty to add such explanations and remarks as they may think desirable. 8. That the meetings of the Association be open to both men and women Friends. The first meeting of the Association is appointed for Second-day evening, the 1st of 2d Month next, at the Reading Rooms, Gracechurch Street, when the committee of management will be appointed, in conformity with rule 4th. a visit to Devon and Cornwall, where he had been with a certificate from his Monthly Meeting. SARAH SQUIRE and SARAH TATHAM have finished their religious engagements within the compass of Durham Quarterly Meeting, returning homeward by way of York. HENRY HOPKINS, of Scarborough, has been liberated by Pickering Monthly Meeting to visit the meetings of Friends in Cumberland and Northumberland Quarterly Meeting, and some of the meetings in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Bristol and Somerset Quarterly Meeting was held at Bristol on Fourth-day, the 16th ult. ELIZA SESSIONS, with a certificate from Gloucester and Nailsworth Monthly Meeting, was present, accompanied by her husband. At her request, a meeting for worship was held in the evening, to which young Friends, and those who usually attend our meetings, though not in membership, were specially invited. A large number collected, and the meeting proved satisfactory. DANIEL WILLIAMS attended Cockermouth Meeting on Fourth-day, the 2d ult.; and, on the First-day following, held a public meeting at Pardshaw-hall. Ar he had a meeting at Swarthmore next morning, and was at Height Meeting on First-day, the 13th. From thence he proceeded to York, where he attended the Quarterly Meeting held there on the 16th and 17th. He was at Halifax on the 19th, and was to have a meeting there that evening. Was present at Brig and he attended the morning and afternoon meetings for worship at that place on First-day, the 27th. At Swarthmore Monthly Meeting, held at Rookhow on the 27th of 11th Month, WILLIAM NASH, of Allithwaite Lodge, near Height, was liberated to visit the Quarterly Meetings of Cumberland and Northumber FRIENDS TRAVElling in the MINISTRY.-On Third-riving at Ulverstone on Fifth-day afternoon, the 10th, day, the 24th of 11th Month, SUSAN HOWLAND, and her sister, LYDIA CONGDON, arrived at Kendal from visiting the Friends of Strickland Monthly Meeting; and, on the same day, began visiting the families of Friends in Kendal, and of those who attend meetings but are not members. They concluded their service on Seventhday, the 28th, having attended Kendal Monthly Meet-house Monthly Meeting, held at Bradford on the 25th; ing the day but one previous. They left on the 28th, and went to Brigflats; attended the meeting there on First-day forenoon, and met the Friends of Sedbergh in the afternoon. They afterwards visited the meetings and families in Sedbergh and Richmond Monthly Meetings. On the 4th of 12th Month, they proceeded to visit the meetings and families in Swarth-land, and Lancashire and Cheshire, also that of Westmore Monthly Meeting, which concluded their services in Westmoreland Quarterly Meeting. They were at Colthouse Meeting on the 6th, and on Fourth-day, the 9th, at Swarthmore Meeting. Leaving Ulverstone, where the Friends of Swarthmore Meeting reside, on Fifth-day, the 10th, they proceeded to the residence of WILLIAM NASH, where they had a meeting at Wigton, on the 31st. ing on Sixth-day morning, the 11th. They intended to have visited the families belonging to Height Meeting, but S. HOWLAND feeling poorly from the effects of cold previously taken, they concluded to proceed to Liverpool to rest for a time. Our latest advice states, that they are at present engaged in visiting the families of Friends belonging to Hardshaw West Monthly Meeting, having commenced this service on First-day, the 20th, at Liverpool, where they attended both meetings the same day; they were also at said meeting on Fifth-day, the 24th, and Firstday, the 27th. THOMAS and MARIANNE BAYES have returned from their religious visit in Cumberland, Isle of Man, &c. FODEN LAWRENCE, of Taunton, attended the Quarterly Meeting for Devonshire, held at Exeter, on Fourth-day, the 9th ult., on his return home from moreland, and some of the Monthly Meetings constituting said Quarterly Meetings. In the course of his religious engagement, he attended the Monthly Meeting at Lancaster, on the 9th of 12th Month. On the 22d, he attended the Monthly Meeting at Cockermouth, and was expected to be at the Quarterly Meet 12th The following list of Meetings attended by MARY S. LLOYD, in Derby and Notts, since our last, has just reached us as we were going to press:-11th Month, 22d, First-day-Castle Donnington; 23d, Loughboro', Meeting appointed; 25th, Heanor Week-day Meeting; 26th, Nottingham Monthly Meeting; 27th, Mansfield, Meeting appointed; 29th, First-day, Derby; 30th, Mary Bond's funeral at Castle Donnington. Month, 1st, Furnace, Meeting appointed; 2d, Bakewell Week-day Meeting; 3d, Mony Ash Week-day Meeting; 6th, First-day, Chesterfield; 7th, Chesterfield Monthly Meeting; 8th, Chesterfield Quarterly Meeting; 9th, Gedney Monthly Meeting, at Gedney; 10th, Spalding Week-day Meeting; 13th, First-day, Brigg; 15th, Gainsboro', Meeting appointed; 16th, Gainsboro' Monthly Meeting, held at Leicester; 17th, Lincolnshire Quarterly Meeting, held at Lincoln; 18th, Broughton, Meeting appointed; 20th, First-day, Nottingham. THE MANCHESTER FRIENDS' INSTITUTE, ☀ MOUNT STREET, PETER STREET. iour's cause. capabilities for its prosecution. "I recognize,” said he, "no other motive for attempting to carry on a branch of business so heavy and so responsible, or inTHE mental and social requirements of the large numdeed for trying to make money, except the happiness ber of young persons attending Manchester Meeting, of using it to benefit mankind and promote the Savhaving long impressed the minds of some Friends, a To bear such burdens for any other numerously attended meeting was held on the 4th in- object were the most abject bondage. I can feel no stant, when-after a very full expression of opinion-interest in amassing wealth, beyond the pleasure I anit was concluded to establish, for their use and ac- ticipate in using it to benefit my fellow-men." commodation, a Reading Room, Library, &c., to be called "THE MANCHESTER FRIENDS' INSTITUTE." Such utterances are refreshing. The doctrine is as sound as gospel morality itself. The law of love binds every man to do all he can to bless his fellow-beings. If his talents and God's opening providence call and fit him for doing mest in worldly business, let him by no means lose sight of the moral law which holds him to bless his fellows, or of that redeeming blood which has laid on him a double claim for the fullest devotion of his powers to Christ and to those whom Christ would save. Most truly there is no other end of wealth worth The use of the school premises in Mount Street has been granted for this purpose by the Preparative Meeting, and they are now being comfortably fitted up and adapted to the wants of the Institute. It will comprise a Reading Room, furnished with a selection of daily and other Newspapers, Magazines and Periodicals; a separate Apartment, where Tea and Coffee may be obtained at a moderate charge; and a Room for the special use of Women Friends. It is intended to form Lending and Reference Lib-seeking. You might use it for self-aggrandizement, to raries, which will contain a variety of valuable and curse yourself thereby; you might accumulate and carefully selected Books, Atlases, Maps, &c. Facili- invest against future wants which cannot occur, to ties will be afforded for the delivery of Lectures, and the greater vexation of all your future life; you might the establishment of Classes for educational purposes. lay it up for your children, to be an incubus on their As it is evident that the success of the Institute enterprise, a paralysis on their self-reliance, and a must mainly depend on the hearty co-operation of the snare unto prodigality; but if bequeathed wealth, beyoung persons for whom it is more especially designed, yond moderate limits, adds to their usefulness or the Committee trust THEY will give it their steady and your comfort, you may set it down as a subversion of earnest support. the course of nature. The wisdom of the past brings us small encouragement to toil and accumulate, in hope of good return from such outlays. Friends visiting Manchester will have free admission to the Institute, which will be found a convenient place of resort, especially from its central situation and proximity to the Meeting House. The Institute will be open from Nine o'clock in the morning to Ten o'clock in the evening. The lowest rate of Subscription will be Ten Shillings per annum for men, and Six Shillings per annum for Women Friends. Donations, either in money or books, will prove acceptable, and can be forwarded to the Secretary or any member of the Committee. Young men, coming to reside in Manchester, will receive from the Committee a free Ticket of admission, entitling them to all the privileges of the Institute for three months, gratis. As Manchester Meeting includes a large number of young men resident in lodgings, and consequently without many of the advantages of a home, one of the leading objects of this Institute is to provide for them a suitable place of resort; and as it will possess not only a local but also a general interest for Friends, the Committee hope that it will receive a wide and liberal support. But benevolence pays well. It pours back into the heart for every out-go of toil or tears. You may defy earth or hell to cheat you of your reward for well-doing. God being true, it will surely come. If you drive a lawful business, and, by diligence and industry, make money, for the supreme end of doing good with it, you will surely have your reward of inward peace as you go along, and the after recompence of God's approval, when your deeds are finally done. The Christianity of our times needs nothing else so much as the inspiring power of such examples. So great is the ascendency of the money-god, and so intense the devotion of the masses to his service, this example of a living Christianity would be appreciated. No set of men can do so much, to-day. to compel homage to the gospel of Christ from its sternest haters, as our heavy and strong business men and our wealthy Christians. If these classes were really to lay themselves out to give-to GIVE for Christ and his canse, to the extent of real self-denial, ungodly men could no longer gainsay. Such testimony would do more for the gospel now than miracles did in the primitive age.-Christian Treasury. THE world is a lying, empty pageant; and men are ensnared with the show. My part in it, as a Christian, is to act with simplicity as the servant of God. What does God bid me do? What, in this minute of time, which will soon be gone, and carry me with it into eternity--what is my path of duty? While enemies blaspheme, and friends are beguiled, lat me stand on my watch-tower, with the prophet "listening to what the Lord God shall say to me." In any scheme of man I dare not be drunken. We, who are of the day, must be sober. The sentiment of the multitude is ensnaring; but the multitude is generally wrong. I must beware of the contagion. Not that I am to push myself into consequence. The matter is between me and my God-not one step out of a holy quiet and obscurity, but as the servant of God.-Cecil. HOW ARE INCREASED SUPPLIES OF COTTON TO BE OBTAINED? BY J. B. SMITH, M.P., EX-PRESIDENT OF THE MANCHESTER THE inventions of Arkwright and Crompton for spin- The importance of our cotton manufactures is best shown by the fact that, besides providing clothing for our whole population, our exports last year amounted to £38,284,700, being one-third of the value of our entire exports to foreign countries; any serious interruption, therefore, to a manufacture in which millions of consumers are interested, would be little less than a world's calamity. It is much to be desired that our supplies of the raw material for so great a manufacture should be derived from a variety of sources, that we may, as far as possible, be thus protected from the fluctuations in prices incident to good or bad seasons; but unfortunately they are chiefly derived from one source. The imports of cotton into Great Britain last year amounted in round numbers to 900,000,000 lbs., of which 700,000,000 ibs. were received from the United States. But not only are we exposed to the danger of being limited chiefly to one source of supply, but to a still greater hazard, viz., that this supply is the production of slave labour. It may be that the institution of slavery, although condemned by all civilized nations, may yet exist for ages in the United States; or it may happen that occurrences may any day endanger its continuance. The alarm created by recent symptoms of discontent among the slaves in that country, is evidence that their owners themselves are not without apprehensions of danger, and it is impossible for those interested in the cotton manufactures of this country to contemplate with unconcern the insecurity on which their vast manufacture rests. This is not a local question; it has become a great national question, and must be forced upon the attention of statesmen of all parties. To me it appears the importance of the subject can scarcely be over-rated, and this is my apology for venturing to offer my humble contribution to its consideration. In the earlier stages of the cotton manufacture, we derived our supplies of the raw material from various quarters in the Mediterranean, the West India Islands, Brazil, and South America; and so late as 1810, our imports from the United States were only 246,759 bales, while from all other countries they were 314,414 bales. In that year, Upland cotton ranged from 15d. to 22. per lb., and West India cotton from 217. to 28. 4. per lb. From this time the growth in the United States kept constantly increasing; and it is evident, from the stocks on hand in our ports for about ten consecutive years, being equal to from thirty-three to fifty-three weeks' cousumption, that the production of cotton had overtaken the demand. The effect of this over-supply was a constant decline in prices, and a struggle between the producing countries, as to which could afford to grow it cheapest. The rich lands and superior cultivation of the United States enabled her successfully to outrival all competitors, and almost to monopolize the supply of the European markets. The decline in the prices of cotton from 22d. per Ib. to 5d. to 8 l. per lb. gave a great stimulus to increased manufacture, and during the same time the constant improvement in machinery led to a cheapness of production which has resulted in an increase of consumption as wonderful as it has been beneficial. In the last forty years, the consumption of cotton in Great Britain has increased from 88,000,000 lbs. to 891,000,000 lbs. The increase in the growth of cotton has not for some years past kept pace with the increased consumption, and instead of large stocks on hand in our ports, at the close of the year, as in times past, our stock in the ports at the close of the last year was only equal to twelve weeks' consumption; and it is evident that we have arrived at the turning point of the consumption having overtaken the production. The question has, therefore, been forced upon our attention, How can our supplies of cotton be increased? In considering this question, we are led to suppose that an advance in price of the raw material will encourage increased cultivation, and it will doubtless have this effect, but it must be borne in mind, that in those countries from whence we formerly received supplies, the growth of cotton has been abandoned for that of more profitable produce, and that before cultivators can be led to return to it they must be induced, first, by high prices, and, secondly, by an assurance of a continuance of high prices. We cannot, therefore, hope, under the most favourable circumstances, to receive supplies from our ancient sources. Attention has been directed, from time to time, to the capabilities of Western Africa for the growth of cotton, and it may probably, ere long, become an important source of supply. Seven years ago, a benevolent gentleman, Mr. Thomas Clegg, of Manchester, conceived the idea that there was a plan of abolishing slavery which had never been tried, and which promised greater success than any other, and at compara. tively little sacrifice of time, labour, and expense. Mr. Clegg's plan was simply to convince the native African chiefs that they could gain more by employing their people on the spot than by selling them to the slave-dealers. By means of the missionaries, he furnished cotton seed to any one who chose to grow it; he sent out simple instructions how to grow, clean, and pack cotton, and also sent the means of purchasing any quantity, however small or large. The first season, only about 235 lbs. were obtainable; the second year, 14,000 lbs.; and the third year, about 30,000 lbs. Since that time, the growers, encouraged by the profits, and finding they can dispose of any quantity, have begun to cultivate it more extensively; and Mr. Clegg expects to receive this year 1000 bales, equal to 1,200,000 lbs.; and next year, 10,000 bales. Mr. Clegg has had three African youths for two or three years at his own mill, preparing them for future usefuluess in their own country, by teaching them every process of cleaning cotton without injury to the fibre. They were also taught the trade of carpentering, mechanics, &c.; and with an intelligent young African surgeon, educated in England, who has also taken up the subject, are all now in Africa engaged in cleaning, packing, and shipping cotton to send to England. This is one of the most interesting experiments ever undertaken, and may lead to consequences which are gratifying to contemplate. Cotton has been grown in Natal, Australia, and on the borders of the Euphrates and the Tigris, and may be grown in most countries situated within certain latitudes; but to grow it in new and barbarous countries to any extent, will, besides the expenditure of considerable capital, probably require ages. What we want are immediate supplies. How are we to get them? We naturally turn our attention to a country, where it is estimated that at the present moment more cotton is grown than in the United States; a |