lowing syllabus of a late public examination; Lord Fitzwilliam and his chaplain were present subsequently, at a similar private examination, and were as much astonished as gratified with what they witnessed.

Evidences of Christianity; what evidence is, and Christianity; importance of perfect proof, its sources, and kinds; character of the Saviour, his miracles, resurrection; character of the apostles, their success, the opponents, with learning, caste; political laws, commerce, slavery; Judaism; idolatry, its kinds; severe tests of the first Christians; benignant influence of Christian truth, its adaptation to all times and natures; its sanction of civil and domestic life, favours intellectual developement, survives through all forms of society; Christian character formed by the highest standard; its independence of poverty, sorrow, health, and even of liberty; argument from prophecy, and the state of the arts.

wafting pinions over the land; but they find and leave childhood the same thing of laughter and jest and song and play. In its simple absurdity, it roasts an apple or a potatoe in the smoking ruins that have unhoused a hundred families and destroyed a century's commerce; trundles its The examination referred to, included mathehoop, in hardy glee over the hot marl of vol-matical definitions and the three first books of canic irruption; or launches its kite above the Euclid, English grammar, history, the English, city filled with plague. Why is all this? Be- Latin and Greek languages, geography, comcause the sweetly-simple unconsciousness of position, logic, &c. The following are the subchildhood knows no fear, its spirit is ever buoy-jects upon which "the moral knowledge class " ant; in its world there are no terrors, for its were examined: mental power is not developed, it cannot think or foresee, and because it is without experience, it can permanently neither feel nor care. How preposterous, then, to suppose that this mental baby can take in adequate provender for all the future man! All that it can learn it should be taught, and in the best style of teaching, too; but the utmost that can be done for it, is merely to prepare for an age of more advanced life and appropriate instruction. The children of the wealthy find that instruction, from 15 to 25, in the university, in private tutors, and foreign travel. But the children of the poor must go to the lathe, the smithy, the wheel, the mill, or the plough, to earn their bread; and while they are learning the arts of subsistence, the effects of the school almost universally exhale. For want of a suitably advanced school or college, the tongue loses its art of reading, the hand its caligraphy, the memory forgets the rules of arithmetic, the few historic incidents once known melt away, and the lines of geography wane from the map. And when the child gushes into the youth, and business demands knowledge for use, and learning would be the best part of poverty's capital, the awakened soul of the young man and woman sighs at the recollection of undervalued school days, looks round society in vain for a mental home, and feels in tears the desolating sentiment, No man careth for my soul.' Men of Sheffield, is this childhood, or is it a caricature? If it be a true portrait, what a farce is any plan of national education that does not provide People's Colleges for the nation's youth."

We learn, that of more than 1,800 young persons who have received educational help at the People's College, four or five young women are now filling important situations as teachers; two or three young men are also acting as schoolmasters; one young man is now studying at Airdale College; another is at one of the Wesleyan Institutes, and a third is preparing for Cambridge, while we have several of Mr. Bayley's students in London in important stations, (one at the London University;) two are much more advantageously settled in America, than they would have been but for the People's College; and another is one of the rising railway engineers.

A "MARK MADE TO A WILL NOT SUFFICIENT.

The Supreme Court of this State have decided The People's College, says the Review, is an that a will to which the "mark" of the testator institution of this kind, in the sixth year of its is made, is void and insufficient. The act of operation in Sheffield. It owes its existence to Assembly of the 8th of April, 1833, requires R. S. Bayley, F. S. A., its principal, to whose that "every will shall be in writing, and unless energy and self-denial it is attributable that it the person making the same shall be prevented has not met the early grave which has swallow-by the extremity of his last sickness, shall be ed so many institutions of a popular nature. Its signed by him at the end thereof, or by some main classes are for the adults of the operative person in his presence, and by his express direcand middle ranks of both sexes, before and after tion." In the case of Asay vs. Hoover, reportthe hours of their daily labour. The morning ed in the Pennsylvania Law Journal, for Noclasses assemble at half past six-the evening vember, 1847, the question, whether a will execlasses at seven. How much may be accom-cuted by the testator's making a "mark," thereplished at these hours, and at the cost of but a to was sufficient, came before the Court. Judge few pence, under judicious direction, without Bell, in delivering the opinion of the Supreme the abstraction of a moment from the ordinary Court, says, "the true construction of the 6th duties of labour, may be judged of from the fol-section of the act of April 8th, 1833, relating to

ber, may well excite a serious consideration of the evils unavoidably attendant upon a vicious system. The subject, we observe, was discussed upon principles of expediency, without bringing into view the great moral question, what influence the meaand moral condition of the labouring class would be sures proposed would exercise on the Cuban and Brazilian traffic in slaves, or how far the mental affected by the introduction of a great number of untutored pagans from the wilds of Africa.

the last wills and testaments, is, that the testator must sign the testamentary instrument by his own proper signature if he be able to do so, but if prevented from doing this by sickness, infirmity, or other incapacity, recourse is to be had to the alternative mode of authentication pointed name to the instrument at the end thereof, by out by the statute, to wit: signing the testator's some person in his presence, and by his express direction, and both the incompetency and signature by express request must be proved by two witnesses. A mark made by the party proposing a testamentary disposition is insufficient in any case, and so is the name of such party written by another person, unless so written in accordance with the statute." This decision is highly important, and unless the mischief is regulated by legislative enactment as to wills made since 1833, will produce great confusion. Per-culties and distress of which we hear so much, are sons who are unable to write cannot make a 'mark,' they must expressly desire some one to sign for them. There are no doubt many papers intended as wills so executed, the makers of which are yet living-they will see the immediate necessity of having their wills executed according to law.

FRIENDS' REVIEW. PHILADELPHIA, THIRD MONTH 18, 1848.

There is, however, one inference which may pos sibly be drawn from this and other similar discussions, against which we desire particularly to caution our readers. The cry of distress, so often heard from the West Indian colonies, may produce an impression, and the advocates of slavery are very ready to give it that direction, that the diffi

the results of emancipation. A very moderate acquaintance with the history of the colonies, is sufficient to show the fallacy of this opinion. Between fifty and sixty years ago, the historian of the British West Indies, an apologist of slavery and the slavetrade, asserted, that for the property of a planter to be free from a mortgage, was a rare exemption. During the discussion in Parliament, respecting the slave-trade, the opponents of abolition laboured to alarm the people of England, by stating the vast amount of debt owing by the West Indian proprietors, to the capitalists, in that country; which they asserted would be lost in case that trade should be abolished. A declaration which, whether true or false, amounted to an admission that the planters had no means of paying their debts without wringing them from the bones and sinews of the unof fending children of Africa.

In the year 1829, nine years before the emanci pation was effected, a standing committee of the West Indian planters and merchants, presented an elaborate statement of the deplorable condition, both financial and commercial, into which the colo

Accompanying the notice of the decease of Christiana C. Vail, which is given in this number of the Review, we have the substance of a memorandum found after her death, among her papers, which manifested her solicitude to keep clear from the gain of oppression. We find that when she was between nine and ten years of age, her father, who was not a Friend, died, leaving a colored man in slavery, who was sold as a part of his estate, and a share of the proceeds fell to this daughter. She was soon convinced that she could not conscientiously apply this money to her own use, and yet was a long time undecided as to its proper applica-nies had fallen, and imploring the assistance of the tion. We have no information what had become of the man, and therefore apprehend that the money could not be employed for his benefit. She, however, kept it as an accumulating fund, until the year 1841, when she applied principal and interest to the benefit of the colored race.

govemment to preserve them from absolute ruin. They asserted that for many years the distress of the planters in Jamaica had been accumulating, till it had reached a crisis which threatened to involve all classes in ruin. In the Leeward islands, the planters were represented as living not on the profits, but on the capital embarked; every year in creasing their debts, and yet obliged to hold estates which yielded no profits, because they were unable to sell them. Pages might be filled with the representations of embarrassment and distress, made by the planters or their agents, a few years prior to the abolition of slavery. Whatever allowance we may be disposed to make for exaggeration in these The summary of a discussion in the British Par- representations, we may fairly cite them as testiliament, in relation to the condition of the West mony that the present difficulties have not arisen Indian colonies, which we have given in this num-from the emancipation of the West Indian slaves.

This anecdote may reasonably suggest to some others, an enquiry whether a conscience equally sensitive with regard to the acquisitions derived, directly or indirectly, from the wrongs of these people, would not operate toward stimulating exertions, or augmenting the funds designed for their benefit.

Just as we were going to press, a copy of the second volume of the above Memoir was received. The first volume was published in the 9th month last. A notice of it will be found in the first two numbers of the Review. We shall hereafter further notice the one just issued.

MARRIED,-At Friends' Meeting, Providence, Randolph county, North Carolina, on Fourth-day the 23d of last month, JESSE D. HOCKETT, to REBECCA, daughter of Enoch Cox.

— At Friends' Meeting house, Laurens, Ot-perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, besego county, N. Y., on Fifth-day the 2d inst., OBA-cause he trusteth in thee." DIAH THORNE, of Skeneateles, Onandago county, to ELIZABETH H. TABER, of the former place.

At Friends' Meeting house, Hopkinton, R. L., on Second-day the 22d of 11th month last, JAS. N. FRY, of Bolton, Mass., to MARY E., daughter of Job Monroe, of North Stonington, Conn.

At the same place, on Fifth-day the 2d inst., JOHN SPENCER, to THANKFUL, daughter of Abel Collins, of North Stonington, Conn.

DIED,-Near Plainfield, New Jersey, on the 17th of 1st month last, in the 75th year of her age, CHRISTIANA C. VAIL, widow of William Vail, a valuable member of Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting. Her close was attended with the calmness and quiet which might have been expected from her blameless and upright life.

At Cedar Lodge, near Cincinnati, Ohio, EMMA, wife of Harrison Alderson, late of Lan cashire, in England.

—, At Smithfield, Jefferson county, Ohio, on First-day the 26th of 12th month last, JOEL HUTTON, a member of Smithfield Monthly Meeting, in the 79th year of his age.

as pure as it is left to you, you may then leave | wages for his service, declares his mind to be it with an equal good conscience to your heirs. In my accounts you will find an article of $500 which I have annually transmitted for twenty years past on the fourth day of February to N. N., merchant of the city of N., which he always delivered into the hands of the decayed Lord of and since his decease, to his impoverished children. My beloved son, this Lord of N. N., made suit to your virtuous mother, but being disappointed, two days after I was married to her, he discharged a pistol at me, and missing his aim, he then poisoned me, but through the infinite inercy of God, I escaped its mortal effects. Several years afterwards, this unfortunate man, by prodigality, was reduced to the utmost poverty, and being then in a married state, it made his condition more deplorable, and gave the better opportunity of relieving my enemy in his distress, which I chose to do on the same day of the year in which the Lord had prevented the effect of that lord's wicked design. This pension, my son, continue to send to the care of said merchant of N. N., on whose silence and faithfulness you may depend as long as the poor family has need of it. I know your heart, and therefore can expect you will do it, or else I would entreat you as a friend, and command you as a father; but take special care that this secret be buried with you in silence. And my son seek tenderness of heart and lasting comfort, by a discreet liberality to the poor. I hope those, your indigent brethren, will find in you that compassionate relief which they can no more expect from me, and that your mind will be so noble as to conceal the fountain whence those streams of benefaction flow. You know that my domestics are grown old and gray in my service, and are no more able to perform their duty in such a manner as your youth and vivacity may require; therefore discharge them, but let them have a sufficient maintenance, and the use of the dwelling house I have provided for them during their lives, that they may live and die in peace. Give the old gardener a double salary, and one of the kitchen gardens for his own use, because he prevented me in my youth from being guilty of an immoral action, and refused a handful of ducats which I offered him for his assistance in the wicked design; but threw the money down on the table with indignation, saying, I had rather quit your house and service, than be accessary to your crime. In the choice of your new servants, choose such as have the character of sobriety and godly fear. Suffer none that are drunkards or profane to continue with you, though they be able and skilful; for believe me, my son, from long experience, I have found that none will serve man faithfully who disregard God. Be a grave, just, orderly, meek and kind master, and consider that your servants are men like yourself, and for one man to despise another because he pays him

ignoble, his sentiments unreasonable, and his behaviour a reproach to his family, and an abomination in the sight of that awful Being who in wisdom has made one man to differ from another Endeavour to be a good example to your family, and consider that a master demeans himself shamefully in the eyes of his domestics by vicious and lewd practices, and is void of that quality by which he should rule in their hearts. Be industrious and orderly, but not covetous. Be not ashamed to do as I have done, but continue the daily worship of God in your house, that it may abide an house of prayer; and in company with your whole family offer up your due oblations to Him who is the grand Master of all; for if your servants fear God, and walk before Him in the paths of virtue, you will be freed from many perplexities that some masters are tortured with by wicked servants. In the choice of a wife, esteem sound reason and understanding rather than a volatile wit; and a good education, rather than a great fortune; and prefer good order and decency before pomp and gaudy attire; but let it be your chief care to seek one that truly fears God, but be cautious of being imposed upon by a person that is intoxicated with party zeal, or enslaved by bigotry, or a deluded votary to false devotion, for if your wife be such a one, or a person who has quenched the motions of internal religion, you will meet with a crowd of vexations and pass your time unhappily. If God gives you children, remember that it is your indispensable duty to educate them for His service, and the public good. Therefore seek for a good, experienced man to instruct, and keep them under wholesome disci pline; and take heed that you do not weaken his authority over his pupils by an unmanly fondness in indulging the faults of youth. For remember that youth left to themselves bring their parents to shame. And spare no cost to obtain, and detain in your family, such a necessary person to assist you in the performance of this great duty, and treat him not as a servant, but regard him as your friend, and take care that your children render to their worthy tutor the respect and reverence due him. But that which will have the greatest influence on their education will be your good example. My son, you have not yet fully discovered the vanity and emptiness of all sublunary things, and cannot yet relish the sweets of a retired life; therefore you may with discretion prefer to serve the public; but do not forcibly intrude into any office, espe cially purchase none by bribes. Remember that public administrations are often attended with very burdensome circumstances, which make the lives of the great miserable, especially such whose consciences are not pure, which they will not have if they enter into offices from selfish views; for they are void of proper and happy aim, viz: the glory of God and benefit of man,