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swer, which, as it had a blessed effect in encouraging my mind reverently to confide in the Lord's infinite mercy, I here transcribe at large. Peradventure it may revive the hope of some afflicted soul.

"Philadelphia, 4th mo. 1st, 1755. "Dear Child, I have carefully read thy letter, and, from a tenderness of spirit which I feel towards thee, conceive much hope that thou wilt do well, if thou keep to that Power which has visited thee. Which, as it has already appeared as a light to convince thee of sin, will, if thou wilt suffer it, destroy it in thy heart. Which dispensation being already begun, is the reason of that anguish of spirit which thou feelest, which will lessen gradually, as thou art assisted

to overcome.

"And be not too much discouraged, neither at what thou hast committed against the Lord, nor at what thou mayest have to suffer for him; for though thy sins may have been as scarlet, he is able and willing to make thy heart as snow, upon thy sincere repentance and humble walking in His fear, and also to give thee strength to do whatsoever he commands thee.

"If thou art willing and obedient for the future, thou shalt eat the good of the land in the Lord's time, and, as thou hast already been instructed that thou shalt only receive consolation as thou art fit for it,' wait patiently, and let the administration of condemnation be fully perfected, so shall the administration of Light and Peace be more clear and strong: which will assuredly come upon thee, if thou abidest faithful to that Power which has visited thee.

"Thou desiredst me to explain some portions of scripture to thee, which I had to mention, which I am willing to do as far as the mentioning of them concerns thy state which I believe was to awaken watchfulness and care over thy conduct, that thy soul may bring forth the fruits of purity and love to God, which will be manifested only by thy obedience, and that thou may not rest in anything short of the knowledge of his power, revealed in thy heart as a refiner and teacher, nor place thy happiness in anything short of his salvation.

"I go out of town to-morrow, and not knowing thy name by thy letter, know not how to get to speak to thee; and have therefore committed the care of this to A. Benezet,* who, I believe, will use his utmost endeavours to convey it to thee. "Farewell; and may the Lord continue to bless thee. I conclude, in much haste, thy sympathizing friend,

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On the receipt and reading of this letter my heart was melted into great tenderness before the Lord, and my mind encouraged to trust in his boundless mercy, thus extended to me a poor unworthy creature. My resolutions were daily strengthened, in remembering that "at what time soever the wicked turneth from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive."

(To be continued.)

From the Non-Slaveholder.

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MANAGERS OF THE PHILADELPHIA FREE PRODUCE ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS.

(Concluded from page 533.)

During the past year, the attention of the managers has been given to the subjects intrusted to their care. By the report of the committee on manufactures, which is herewith submitted, the quantity and kind of goods manufactured under the patronage of this Association, will appear.

An agent has been employed during several months, in examining the condition of the cotton and sugar cultivation in several of the southwestern states. In pursuing this enquiry, he has necessarily come frequently in contact with the possessors of slaves; yet no serious obstruction has been cast in his way. The propriety and consistency of our course appear to be generally acknowledged. Our agent has furnished the names of a number of cultivators, in some of the northern counties of Mississippi and the adjacent parts of Tennessee, by whom upwards of two thousand bales of cotton are raised and cleared of seed by free labour. Arrangements for the purchase of this cotton, without being blended with the products of slave-labour, can be readily made. And if the traders in this article would avail themselves of the opportunity, and improve the facilities afforded by the information which this agent has elicited, the non-slaveholding planters of the south would be encouraged to increase their cultivation, and to preserve the product of their farms from being mixed, in the general market, with the results of servile labour.

Cotton, in the various forms which it has assumed, has been so intimately blended with the comforts and conveniences of life, that we cannot expect, if we could even desire, that its use will be abandoned, or greatly diminished. We must of course believe, that while an article of such apparently indispensable necessity continues to be produced chiefly by the labour of slaves, our citizens in general will continue to use it, without any very critical enquiry into the means of supply. And the unavoidable consequence of this state of things, must be that the sensibilities of the community will be greatly blunted in regard to the evils and injustice of

Their members were pressingly invited to a deep and weighty consideration of the responsibility resting upon them, and cautioned not to lend their influence in any way, to the extension or support of the slave power.

A store has been recently opened in the city of New York, by Lindley M. Hoag and George Wood, in which articles, the produce of free labour only, are sold.

slavery itself. It would indeed be a marvellous | righteous institution, was particularly distressing. circumstance if we could retain the lively conviction of the abominations of slavery, which a first acquaintance with the subject, must impress on an uncontaminated mind, while the wealth of our merchants and manufacturers, and the comforts of our people are so dependent as they are, upon the operations of the system. But if a channel was opened through which the same advantages could flow, without admixture with any other products than those of free and compensated labour, we can hardly doubt that many a torpid conscience (torpid at least in regard to the products of slave-labour) would be aroused. The hope of success stimulates exertion. And a well-settled conviction that every convenience and comfort which the drudgery of slaves can furnish, could be as fully and cheaply supplied through the instrumentality of free labour, would probably do more than all the logic of Aristotle, towards establishing a belief that slavery is an evil too enormous to be innocently sustained. The belief that slavery itself is upheld, and its iniquity participated, by those who support the markets for its products, would probably soon follow.

Our agent, when last heard from, had a prospect of visiting Arkansas and Texas. We have understood that cotton, in considerable quantity, is raised by free labour in the former; and we hope to find cotton, sugar and rice, similarly cultivated in the latter. The emigration of German settlers into Texas, affords a hope that the cultivation of the soil by the hands of freemen, will, to a considerable extent, supercede, if not eventually exclude, the employment of slaves.

A merchant in New Orleans has hired thirty Germans, and proposes to plant one hundred acres with sugar cane.

A Friend in Southampton county, Virginia, raised thirty bushels of rice during last year, which has been purchased for the free produce store in this city. A large quantity of land, on which rice may be cultivated to advantage, is found in that county; and there are free coloured people there who can be employed to perform the necessary labour. Measures have been taken to encourage the cultivation of rice on this land, and the proceeds will probably be forwarded to this place next year. Some other products of southern climates are expected, untouched by servile labourers, from that neighbourhood. A quantity of rice, raised by a Friend of Perquimons county, North Carolina, has been purchased, and is expected to come to hand in a short time.

Our friends in New York continue to manifest much interest in the cause of emancipation. The affecting subject of slavery occupied the serious consideration of their last Yearly Meeting; and the conviction that the war in which the United States were engaged, was designed to extend the area and influence of this un

The necessity of endeavouring to abstain from the products of slave-labour, in order to maintain a consistent testimony against slavery itself, has arrested the consideration of some of our friends in Ohio; and they are preparing to open a store in which free produce only shall be kept.

The manufacturers of England have hitherto been the most extensive purchasers of American cotton, and consequently among the most ef ficient supporters of American slavery; but the people of that country have been recently aroused by the eloquence of George Thompson, to a renewed consideration of their responsi bility, in thus giving encouragement and support to a system which their government and people have united in discarding.

This extraordinary man, who a few years ago produced such an excitement among a certain class of our citizens, by his eloquent and thrilling denunciations of slavery, has been, within a few months, elected a member of parliament. Previous to this event, but subsequent to his leaving America, he paid a visit to the British possessions in India; and now in his legislative capacity, purposes to make it a principal object of attention, to draw, from that prolific and extensive country, the supplies of cotton which have thus far been obtained from the United States. And in this effort he is not by any means a solitary labourer. A number of his philanthropic countrymen, among whom we find several valuable members of our religious society, have embarked their talents and energies in the same cause. By their united exertions, the incidents, the nature, and evils of slavery, and the means by which it is supported, have been fully exposed; and the attention of no inconsiderable portion of the people of Eng land directed to a traffic, the foundations of which are not laid in the blood of their fellow men.

What the result of the experiment may be, time only can determine. Neither is it our business, as members of this association, to enquire what benefits the people of India may derive from the opening of this market; but we know that one, if not the principal moral motive for thus changing the channel of commerce would be removed, if the cotton of the United States could be cultivated exclusively by freemen; and we also know, that its transportation across the Atlantic could be effected at much less cost and danger, than its importation from

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We confi

7? way dently trust that their mantle has not fallen neglected to the ground, but will yet be the covering of thousands. And if we cannot now point to their equals, we may reasonably hope that the defects of individual efficiency may be compensated by the force of numbers.

the opposite hemisphere. Hence we may | now demanded. Can our day furnish a Woolreasonably infer, that every successful effort to man or a Benezet to lead the substitute free for slave-labour in the production of this valuable commodity, is doing something towards preserving the commercial connection between the United States and our mother country. And we may observe, that in proportion as nations are inade and continued dependent upon each other for the needful supplies, will be their anxiety to preserve the relations of peace. Thus the labours of this Association are incidentally aimed at the evils of war as well as of slavery.

There is probably at this time no essential difference of opinion, as to the object for which the aggressive war upon our sister republic was waged; and there can be no doubt that a strenuous effort is now likely to be made, to open a new area for the extension of slavery. The apathy with which the encroachments of the slaveholding interests have been suffered, can scarcely be explained upon any other principle than the benumbing influence of an intimate commercial connection with the masters of slaves, and the habitual use of the products derived from their unrequited toil.

When we take into view the admitted and undeniable fact, that most of the great movements of the community are impelled by real or imaginary interests; and that every system, however objectionable, which has been once firmly established, will enlist the prejudices as well as interests of great numbers in its support; that the institution of slavery, like every other system of labour, depends upon a demand for its products; we can scarcely arrive at any other conclusion, than that while a market is open where the productions of servile toil find a ready sale, and particularly while that market is supported by men of the highest respectability, there will be slaves to supply it; and so long as there continues to be a pressing demand for slaves, that demand will produce a supply.

Of

SAMUEL RHOADS, Secretary. Philadelphia, 3d mo. 17th, 1848.

A TESTIMONY

Grace Church Street Monthly Meeting,
London, concerning WILLIAM ALLEN.
(Concluded from page 531.)

In the year 1823 he was again introduced into the depths of sorrow, by the decease of his tenderly beloved and only child; yet he was remarkably sustained by an Almighty Power, and when his spirit was ready to faint within him, "The Lord gave and the he was enabled to say, Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." This sore bereavement was not permitted to check the flowing of that stream of divine love, which embraced in its course the In the school of affliction whole family of man. he was stimulated to greater diligence in the occupation of the talents committed to his trust. Various and important were the objects for which, from early life, he felt himself called upon actively to use them. One of the most prominent of these was the religious and liberal education of our youth, many of whom shared the privilege of his fatherly and disinterested efforts to promote their improvement. His exertions in the important work of early instruction were, however, not limited to our own Society, but extended to the children of the poor of every clime, and of every colour; and, in order to spread, universally, the blessings of an education based on sound Christian principles, he became one of the founders of the British and Foreign School Society, an institution to which he conscientiously devoted much of his energies to the close of his active life. He was an early and zealous advocate for the promotion of universal peace, and was deeply affected by the sufferings of the enslaved Africans; labouring, for upwards And when we deliberately examine the ad- of fifty years, to promote their liberation from vices frequently issued by various departments cruel bondage. He was frequently concerned of our religious society in relation to slavery to impress on the minds of persons employed and the slave-trade, and trace, these to the prin- in the administration of government, the great ciples on which they are founded, we are en- principles of righteousness and mercy, in refercouraged to hope that its members will not fail ence to such as had transgressed the laws of their to maintain the position which we have hereto- country. The circulation of the Holy Scripfore occupied. Our society has been univer- tures throughout the world, was an object which sally admitted to the advanced post in the pro- lay near his heart; he was also instrumental in gress of emancipation. This has been princi- the wide distribution of religious publications, pally owing to the faithful exertions of enlightened individuals. If that position is still to be maintained, we apprehend a further advance is

Hence we may derive encouragement to pursue the object for which we have associated, confidently believing that however slow our progress may apparently be, yet resting upon principles which are fixed and immutable, the result must eventually be such as every philanthropist would ardently desire.

particularly such as tended to spread a knowledge of the principles of our Christian profession; having found, by experience, that in their practi

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cal working, they are eminently calculated to promote "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men.”

He was often acceptably engaged in religious service in England, both by appointments of the Yearly Meeting, and with certificates from this Monthly Meeting, and was several times in Ireland, where he once paid a general visit.

In 1827 he was united in marriage to Grizell Birkbeck, whom he survived. In the years 1832 and 1833 he again joined his beloved friend Stephen Grellet, in an extensive journey on the Continent of Europe. They visited some places in Holland, several of the states of Germany, and parts of Hungary, France, and Spain. Some of the meetings for worship were very memorable seasons, the effects of which have since been feelingly acknowledged. Though the public profession of the religion of Spain did not admit of this line of service there, yet they found many opportunities of spreading the truth. They obtained access to the public institutions by means of a special permission from the government, and when they had finished their labours in Madrid, they stated the result of their observations in a memorial to the King, which he cordially received.

In the year 1840 our beloved friend, although sensible of the infirmities of advanced age, felt drawn, in the love of the gospel, once more to visit, as he expressed it, the brethren in some. parts of the European Continent: and he informed our Monthly Meeting that he had a prospect of travelling with his dear sister in the truth, Elizabeth Joseph Fry, who was liberated for a similar service. His concern was feelingly united with, and with his companion, and her brother Samuel Gurney, he proceeded through brother Samuel Gurney, he proceeded through Belgium and Holland to Germany. They visited the Friends at Minden and Pyrmont, and thence went on to Hanover, and various places in Prussia, labouring diligently in the work to which they felt themselves called. Meetings for worship were appointed, at their request, in Brussels, Amsterdam, Hanover, Berlin, and Dusseldorf, all of which were numerously attended, and, as well as those held in smaller places, were, in a remarkable degree, times of solemnity and edification. In reference to some of them our dear friend remarks: "The blessed power of truth reigned over all." He returned to England to attend the Yearly Meeting, and was afterwards enabled to perform the remaining service which he believed was required of him, in France, Germany, and Switzerland. Respecting this journey, he says: "The tribute of thanksgiving and praise was, from time to time, offered to Him to whom alone is the glory." It was not only by visits to the various countries of Europe that he sought to promote the best interests of man; he maintained also an extensive correspondence with religious persons, through the instrumentality of some of whom he

was enabled to minister to the temporal and spiritual wants of many,

The weightiness of our dear friend's spirit was felt in our religious assemblies; he reverently waited for divine help, and was careful not to utter words without the fresh putting forth of the good Shepherd. His engagements in the ministry were peculiarly attended with the unction of heavenly love; they were marked by great simplicity, and a fervent desire that all might be attracted to the fountain of life, and be made experimental partakers of that refreshing which comes from the presence of the Lord. He was often led to dwell upon the spiritual nature of true worship, and of that "baptism which now saveth ;" and he was frequently concerned to bear testimony to the infinite value of the propitiatory sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, dwelling on the redemption that was thereby purchased for fallen man, and on the consolation to be derived from the application of this doctrine. The preservation of the youth amongst us, and their establishment in the truth as it is in Jesus, were especially the objects of his fervent concern; and he frequently and affectionately exhorted them to attend to the monitions of the Holy Spirit, and to yield obedience to all that was manifested to be consistent with the divine will.

He was a man of prayer, and in his private earnest supplications at the throne of grace. retirements, often poured forth his spirit in So great was his sense of the awfulness of publicly calling on the name of the Lord, in the congregations of the people, that when he ven tured on this solemn engagement, he manifested much holy fear and brokenness of spirit, and a baptizing power was often sensibly felt to acthe offering.

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In the latter years of his life, he passed a considerable portion of his time at his residence, near the village of Lindfield, in Sussex, where he had established schools of industry, and pursued many plans for improving the condition of the labouring population. During his stay at this place, in the autumn of 1842, he had a serious illness, from the effects of which he never entirely recovered: his mental faculties had lost their vigour, and he was under the ne cessity of withdrawing from many of those avocations, in which he had been long and usefully engaged.. But under this trial, he gratefully recognized the care of his gracious Lord, and in a letter to a friend, dated 17th of 10th mo., says, "I believe this illness is sent in me, to wean me more and more from all things below, and to make me look more steadily to the end of time." He was, however, permitted so far to recover as to be able to return to Stoke Newington, and generally to unite with his friends in their religious meetings, a privilege which he greatly prized. He was still some

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were raised in the attitude of prayer, and then tranquilly rested on his bosom, as the redeemed spirit was gently released from its earthly tenement. At that solemn period a holy calm pervaded the chamber, and the consoling belief was granted that, through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, he had entered into the joy of his Lord.

times engaged in the ministry with weight and | In the near approach of dissolution his appearclearness, and his spirit was, in a remarkable ance indicated a heavenly serenity: his hands degree, clothed with love. Under an humbling sense of his own unworthiness, he was frequently led to speak with gratitude of his hopes of mercy, through the atoning sacrifice of Christ his Saviour. Though at times under much depression, from the sinking of nature, he said those feelings were only bodily, and that he felt no condemnation. The calm sweetness of his spirit did indeed testify that his mind was stayed on God. He had, for some time, expressed his belief that his day's work was nearly done, but he could not say he had a wish, as to whether his time here were longer or shorter. Thus prepared, with his loins girded about and his light burning, he peacefully waited for the summons of his Lord. Only the day previous to his last seizure, which was during his stay at Lindfield, he observed how particularly comfortable he had been for the last few days.

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He died at Lindfield, on the 30th of 12th mo., 1843, and his remains were interred on the 6th of 1st mo., 1844, at Stoke Newington, after a large and solemn meeting, held on the occasion. He was seventy-three years of age, a minister about twenty-five years.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN ITALY.

A correspondent of the New York Evangelist, writing from Marseilles, says:

"The Waldenses are now, by published delic subjects of Sardinia. As the freedom of the cree, admitted to all the privileges of the Cathothe Constitution, we shall soon test the force press' has been guarantied by the late plan of and spirit of the article on that subject, by a deposit of Bibles at the custom-house.

"The Italian papers are assuming an altogether new face. They give us articles pro and con upon the great religious questions of the day— Cardinal Lambruschini is conducting a controliberty of conscience and freedom of worship.

In the course of this illness, which was nearly of eleven weeks' continuance, he was remarkably preserved in patience, and though, in the great prostration of the bodily powers, the mental also participated, yet his religious sensibility was lively, and his love flowed towards all around him, as well as to his absent friends. In sending a message to one of them, he said, "Tell him though I cannot now do much for the cause, I dearly love those who love the cause." The Scriptures were frequently read to him at his own request, as well as other reli-versy with a bold writer in a gazette of Flogious books, and on these occasions he evinced great tenderness of spirit. When hearing, with interest, an account of some of our early Friends, he remarked, that he often felt comforted in the hope of being one day united to all those worthies for ever: he afterwards added with tears, "O! how often I think with comfort of those gracious words of the Saviour, That they may be with me, where I am;' and in alluding to the passage, "I in them, and thou in me," he said it was a precious thing to be one in Christ. He desired that some young persons, in whom he felt much interest, might

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rence. The Cardinal is intolerant enough to gain immortal honour in the Church; but he writes mildly, and allows that there may be different and even hostile opinions upon this question (the freedom of worship) among equally good men.' It is a cheering day for the cause of truth, when cardinals are willing to enter the arena of free public discussion. In Sicily, too, we see the development of a new spirit upon the matter of religion. In the last number of one of the Sicilian journals, there is a spirited appeal for toleration. Religion,' says the writer, ought not to remain the slave and dependent of the caprice of the local Ministry, or of government; for religion, thus degraded and metamorphosed in the hands of power, as a means of government, no longer retains moral force, as experience proves, either for assisting the govern. ment, or for conducting the people into true morality and true civilization. Well said for a

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Sicilian."

be told that he had been sustained in this illness beyond what he could have expected, that "nothing but a sense of the Lord's presence could support at such a time," but, he added, "The Lord never will forsake those who trust in Him-He never will." He said it was a trying time, but all must come to it; flesh and heart failed, but he again repeated his assurance that the Lord never would forsake those who trusted in Him. When sending another message of affection to an absent friend, he remarked, Sir James Clark, physician to the queen, that there was no happiness but in the path of enumerates, as the exciting causes of consumpduty. His mind, when capable of reflection, tion, "long confinement in close, ill-ventilated seemed steadily turned towards heavenly things, rooms, whether nurseries, school-rooms, or and short ejaculations of "O Lord! dear Lord!" manufactories;" he also says, If an infant, continued, when nature was almost exhausted. | born in perfect health, and of the healthiest

CONSUMPTION.

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