of the people go the road that leads to destruction; and not many know of the blessed spirit within, the light of life that is given, in measure, to all people. "The people of Norway are under a hard press by the clergy, for they do what he says, whether it be wrong or right. Those books given to me, I have lent out. The people called Saints are very near to them [the principles set forth in the books]; and they confess that it is the same blessed Spirit that has called them to repentance. Many of them are truly Christians; and there is great hopes of others. Many of them are far mers. "May the Lord God of all preserve us in the path of life! I will say, for my part, that it was the best voyage I have done over the sea, that time I came to England; for then I found God, my real Father and Preserver. And I will say, in the language quoted by Job Scott, 'For all I thank thee: most for the severe."" He then speaks of the effects of the war in depressing the value of the currency, and the suffering consequent thereon. who taketh away the fear of men, and can make his people stand as firm as in a battle." We now have to notice an important event in the history of the Society of Friends in Norway the visit of Stephen Grellett and William Allen to the various little settlements of them there; which was of a very comforting, strengthening character to them. Perhaps it cannot be better introduced than by an extract from a letter from Enoch Jacobsen, then in London, to a Friend, of Rochester : "London, 7th mo. 30th, 1818. "My dear Friend,-I arrived here the 12th, being only ten days from Christiania until we landed at Gravesend. I left our Friends at home pretty well, and Canute desired his love to thee; also L. Larsen and Lars Monsen. I had also a letter from Elias E. Tasted, in which he desired his love to thee." He then alludes to some application made to the Swedish government for the relief of Friends in Norway, adding, "I may say there are no laws yet made in favor of Friends; so that those who stand firm to their principles, act contrary to the laws of the country. Friends must be resigned to take the consequence; and I should be very glad, at the present moment, that our Friends, with myself, might be so strengthened as to endure any hardship which Providence may see meet to permit to be inflicted upon any of those who may be willing to stand faithful to the truth, in order, for the more or greater breaking forth of his light, and the glorious knowledge; though I do not think that he is willing to inflict more than his poor followers will be enabled to bear. In the course of the year 1815, some of the little company at Christiania became unsettled; one of them in reference to a marriage rather too hastily contracted, and not accomplished in a manner satisfactory to his brethren; though, some time afterwards, he appears to have been measurably restored. His wife also evinced a friendly spirit. Some of them, giving themselves up to a wayward course, attempted to excuse themselves on the plea of Divine guidance; thus allowing Satan, the adversary, to assume the garb of an angel of light. In 1816, Enoch Jacobsen, who had been left in England, as before men-, "All is quiet at present, so that we have not tioned, joined the little company at Christiania. suffered any imprisonment yet; though we may, His presence appeared to contribute to the resto-in some respects, have many difficulties. ration of love and harmony. They met at times, in their meetings for worship, about eleven persons. It is probable that H. N. Houge, by his subtilty, contributed to the unsettlement amongst them; at least that appears to have been the opinion of Enoch Jacobsen. In a letter describing some of these occurrences, which appears to be from Canute Halversen (though it is not signed), he thus expresses himself: 66 Many may call Friends' principles, or some of them, of little consequence, and small things. But the small things, when despised, open the way for the greater: and so, by degrees, little by little, until the mind becomes so darkened, that all this will be called 'nothing.' Thus are poor creatures deceived! And as the love of infinite wisdom is, in a great degree, afresh extended to lead back again such poor mortals, yet the cross will be greater than before, and more difficult to bear. Oh! how I often sigh under a sense of weakness. How difficult it is to stand on the right ground, when no support can be felt. Oh! I do feel the necessity of drawing near to Him "Thou wilt be much surprised at dear Stephen Grellett's intention to visit our country; also some parts of Sweden, thence to Russia, and by the Black Sea to Constantinople. William Allen is to accompany him. "I was favored with a letter from Thomas Christy, before I left home; and I was glad to reach this country at a very good time. I wish much that strength and ability could be so far extended to me, that I could render the Friends all the assistance they may want. "Thou wilt conclude, from what I have said, that I shall have to accompany the Friends through Norway and Sweden, and so far as I can see my way to go. A vessel is engaged, lying at Harwich, to take us to Stavanger, and to stop there a few days, and thence to Christiansand; from which we intend to travel by land to Christiania. From thence it is thought to go to Gottenburgh and Stockholm, in order to cross the Gulf of Bothnia, then travel to Petersburgh. "Thus, dear friend, I have given thee a short statement of our intended voyage; and I have no doubt that Providence will be pleased to make things comfortable for the Friends. We are making ready to start the 6th of next month. "Thy affectionate friend, "ENOCH JACOBSEN." A VISIT TO BRAZIL. Narrative of a recent Visit to Brazil, by John Candler and Wilson Burgess: to present an address on the Slave Trade and Slavery, is sued by the religious Society of Friends. Our friends, however, took care in private conversation to let it appear, that their address contained an uncompromising condemnation of slavery, as well as of the traffic. The following extract affords a glimpse of the state of religion among the people of Rio Janeiro: "As we were walking in the 'Rua direitta,' a Brazilian gentleman accosted us in imperfect English, informing us that he had been in England and knew that we were Quakers. They ask me,' he continued, 'who you are; I tell them Quakers, Friends-very good people. I knew a Quaker in London (William Allen) a very good man indeed.' Finding him disposed the way to the National Library. I will go to be familiar, we told him that we were seeking with you,' he said. Taking us by the arm he conducted us to a narrow paved court-way which we had just avoided. A Roman Catholic church, An extract from this pamphlet relating to the geography and government of Brazil, was introduced into the 46th number of our preceding volume. The object of the visit as indicated by the title, was not then mentioned. As the voy age described in the narrative was one of philanthropy, with particular reference to slavery and the slave trade, it is supposed that some further extracts may prove acceptable to many read-in which high mass was performing, opened by ers of the Review. The voyagers arrived at Rio Janeiro, on the 9th of 10th month, 1852, and the officer who cleared their baggage, upon reading their letter of introduction, remarked: "I am glad of your mission: I have been striving with others these 20 years to put down the slave trade; we cannot go as far as you in regard to slavery; our circumstances forbid it; but I will do what I can to help you." do 6 its principal entrance into the court, and a number of persons stood bare-headed before the doors. We requested him not to take us that way, as we could not take off our hats in honor of the service, and we desired not to give offence. 'Never mind,' was his rejoinder, leave that to me.' On coming to the people, he took off his own hat, and as we passed through them, he said, These are my friends, you must give dispensamolestation. Such dispensation is not permitted tion;' and we were suffered to go on without in Portugal. The truth is that in Brazil, though a strictly Roman Catholic country, in which no natives are protestants, there is a large amount of religious as well as of civil liberty. English and American protestants are allowed to build It was observed that the authorities of Brazil were desirous of having it understood that the address with which our friends were charged, had relation to the slave trade, and not to slavery. Having applied to the Secretary of For-places of public worship so long as the exterior eign Affairs, for an opportunity to present their address to the Emperor, he returned the following note, in which it is observable that he refers to the slave trade alone, as the object of their mission. is simple, without a steeple and without bells, and to worship in their own manner; nor are the Roman Catholics forbidden, if they please, to attend a protestant service. Free permission is given by law to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures: an agent of the American Bible Society sells them at a moderate price at a store in the "The Minister of Foreign Affairs presents city, and a Roman Catholic bookseller advertises his compliments to Messrs. Wilson Burgess and for sale the Bibles of the British and Foreign John Candler, and informs them that his Majes- Bible Society. We found, on inquiry, that the ty the Emperor will receive them on Saturday, demand was small, and that the Bibles were obthe 16th current, at 5 o'clock, P. M., at the Pa-jected to, as wanting the Apocrypha. So little lace of St. Christopher; and then Messrs. Wil-aid is afforded by the State to a persecuting spison Burgess and John Candler may present to rit on the part of the Roman bishops and clergy, him, in the name of the Religious Society of that a travelling agent for the selling of Bibles which they are commissioners, the congratulations [felicitations] for the measures which the imperial government has taken in opposition to the trade in negroes.* The 14th of October, 1852." might pass through the country unmolested. The fault of the Brazilians in regard to religion is not intolerance, but indifference: the common people, as in all Popish countries, are deeply superstitious; the upper or educated class, who rule the nation, are spoken of by those who ob This note is given in the pamphlet in the French serve them, as influenced greatly by the literalanguage. ture of France, and strongly disposed to infide lity. In such a nation, under the combined in- | Emperor,-'I thank you very much.' Here the fluences of Popery, infidelity, and slavery, it interview ended, and we retired. would be vain to expect a commendable state of morals." From this passage, it would appear that liberal principles had made some progress in that city within the last eighteen years; for we find that when Daniel Wheeler was there on his way to the Polynesian islands, in 1834, he could find no person who was willing to incur the risk of being found in possession of the Spanish Bibles which * * * * "On returning from the palace, we called on Euezbio, the late Minister of Justice to the Empire, an earnest opposer of the African slavetrade, who expressed his gratification at receiving such a visit; and intimated his determination, though no longer in office, to continue his efforts zilian name." to suppress a practice so disgraceful to the Bra (To be continued.) UNITED STATES. he was desirous of distributing. He also un- PERPETUAL PEACE BETWEEN ENGLAND AND THE derstood that a number of copies of the Scriptures in the Portuguese language, which were at one time brought into the country, were believed to have been destroyed under pretence that the translation was too imperfect for circulation. Of their interview with the Emperor, and presentation of their address, the following notice is given : ante-room. Here is an object important almost beyond conception-perpetual peace between these leading nations of Christendom. Consider its feasibility as well as its vast importance, and say whether we ought not to do all we can for its accomplishment. Look at the evils to be averted. War has ever credit or conceive how much evil it has done. been a most fearful scourge. We can hardly It has entailed on Europe alone about $10,000,000,000 of war-debts; and her war-system is still costing her, in a time of peace, full $1,000,000,000 a year. There is no end to its evils. It crushes or cripples all the great interests of mankind-agriculture, manufactures, commerce, education, virtue, religion, every enterprise of benevolence or reform. The special bearings of this question on the spread of Christianity must be obvious to every one. When war, a few years ago, was seriously threatened between us and England, one of our leading religious newspapers proclaimed its belief, that such a war would put back the world's conversion a whole century; and it is certain, that our last war with Great Britain, and even our late war with Mexico, neither of them three years in duration, still sacrificed on both sides more property and more lives than the Church of Christ has in five centuries expended in spreading the gospel among the heathen! England and America, God's chosen pioneers in the world's freedom, improvement and salvation, must continue in peace with each other, or this great work, the crowning glory of our age, will inevitably be arrested in its progress. "A servant in attendance directed us to an After waiting half an hour, a gentleman of the household desired us to follow him to the hall of audience, where he said we should find the Emperor. This was our only introduction. A fine tall man, dressed in plain clothes, but with a diamond star on his breast, seeing us enter, kindly walked a few paces to meet us. We knew him to be the Emperor. The gentlemen who attend him on occasions of audience, stood at a distant part of the room. Holding the parchment in our hands, we addressed him in the following manner. May it please the Emperor to permit us briefly to explain the cause of our coming to Brazil? We are Members of the Society of Friends, in England. That Society has long felt a deep sympathy for the wrongs of Africa in the existence of the slavetrade in different countries, and deplores also the continuance of slavery. Influenced by this feeling, it has believed it to be a religious duty to prepare an Address to the Sovereigns and Rulers of Christian nations on the subject. This address has been presented to many of the Courts of Europe; and we are deputed to present it to the Emperor of Brazil. Will the Emperor con- Well did Mr. Everett lately say before the descend to receive it at our hands?' The Em-U. S. Senate: "I do beseech you to let us have peror, taking the parchment, said, 'I will receive twenty-five years at least of peace; and in these it with pleasure, and read it.' 'May we be al- twenty-five years we shall exhibit a spectacle of lowed to congratulate the Emperor, and to ex-national prosperity such as the world has never press our thankfulness that the slave-trade is extinguished, or nearly so, in Brazil ?" The Emperor-I wish to see it abolished all over the world.' May we also express our desire that He who rules in the heavens, by whom Kings rule and decree justice, may be pleased to bless the Emperor and Empress, and their children, and give prosperity and peace to Brazil?' The seen on so large a scale." We would fain secure this great boon through all coming ages; and if peace for only one quarter of a century can work such wonders, what glorious results might we expect from perpetual peace between these two nations? Such peace we deem it clearly possible to secure by stipulated arbitration-a provision in between those two great countries, and eventually peo the treaties between these nations for the adjust-, ment of all their future difficulties in the last resort, by reference to umpires This point we have long urged upon the public mind, until we begin at length to gain a favorable hearing from rulers themselves, the men who hold this whole question in their hands. In 1851, Hon. H. S. tion now turns on the popular will in the United FOOTE, of Mississippi, as Chairman of the States. Our government will propose such a Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations, re-treaty whenever the mass of our people shall unported, as their unanimous recommendation, equivocally demand it; and we have the best "that it would be proper and desirable for the reason to believe, that the people of England will government of these United States, whenever receive it with acclamation. practicable, to secure, in its treaties with other Shall we, then, lose such a golden opportunity? nations, a provision for referring to the decision If not, we must seize the passing moment; for it of umpires all future misunderstandings that will soon be too late to secure this provision in cannot be satisfactorily adjusted by amicable ne- the pending treaty. England and America must gotiation;" and in February, 1853, Hon. J. R. start this measure; and now is the best time UNDERWOOD, of Kentucky, from the same Com- they have ever had, or perhaps can ever have, to mittee, made a long and very able report, which start it with success. It can be done, if the closed with recommending, "that the Senate ad-ple will it. Say you the people do wish it? So vise the President to secure, whenever it may be we think; but our rulers do not know this, and practicable, a stipulation in all treaties hereafter will not act till they do. The President himself entered into with other nations, providing for is merely an agent of the people, and will move the adjustment of any misunderstanding or con- in such a matter only in accordance with their troversy that may arise between the contracting known or supposed wishes; and hence, if they parties, by referring the same to the decision of really desire him to take this important step, they disinterested and impartial arbitrators, to be mu- ought as a body to say so in ways that shall leave tually chosen." During the last six months, four no posible doubt. The whole people should lift of our State Legislatures-all before whom the up their voice to him in earnest entreaty for this subject was properly brought-have passed, with great measure of peace. It is an object clearly great unanimity, resolves strongly in favor of the common to them all; a movement that knows no same measure; and there is good reason to be- North or South, no East or West; a question on lieve, that public opinion, both in England and which no issues of party, sect or section, can posthe United States, would, if duly called forth, sibly be made. The whole country needs it; and sanction and applaud such a precaution against we should take means to satisfy our rulers, that future wars. The late President, and his Sec- the people as a body desire it, and will applaud retary of State, declared their own readiness, af- the men who shall secure it for them. ter a careful examination of the subject, to insert such a provision in the treaty pending at the time, but not completed, between us and Great Britain. Several years ago, Lord JOHN RUSSEL, then Premier of England, said distinctly to a deputation that brought this measure to his special notice, if the United States should think proper to make such a proposal, the British Government would take it into most serious consideration;' and as the result of a similar interview lately had by leading friends of peace in England with the British Foreign Secretary, we are assured by one of the most distinguished members of Parliament, as his 'confident belief, that, if our Government are prepared to insert an arbitration clause in the pending treaties, it will be accepted by theirs.' Hence we propose, 1. To get up petitions to the President from all parts of the land, a large State Memorial from every State in the Union; 2. To enlist our leading presses in zealous advocacy of the movement;-3. To scatter broadcast over the country our Society's publications, particularly on this and some kindred topics ;-4. To take whatever steps, if any be necessary, in conjunction with our English friends, to secure the concurrence of their government in carrying this important measure into effect. We shall be obliged not only to use the press extensively, but to send forth a number of well qualified agents, and to ask the spontaneous energetic co-operation of our friends throughout the land. For For this movement, we expect to need some $10,000; and, if successful, it will be worth in Thus the result is now in the hands of our own its results ten thousand times this amount. Executive. If they will just propose, in the very a similar movement, our co-workers in England important treaty soon to be negotiated, a provi- have just raised $50,000, six individuals subscribsion for the adjustment of all future difficulties | ing each $2,500; and will not the friends of God by arbitration as the last resort, the British Gov-and man in America contribute one-fifth as much ernment will doubtless accept it, our Senate will for an object so immensely important? Can they readily confirm it, and thus will be started under the best possible auspices, a measure likely, if adopted in good faith, to insure perpetual amity give their money in any other way to better purpose? We verily believe the full success of this measure will draw after it, in the long train of coming ages, results more important to our coun- | in all, four hundred inmates. The whole numtry, to Christendom and the world, than the whole amount of good that has yet been accomplished by all the united enterprises of Christian benevolence and reform, during the last fifty years. To the President of the United States: WE THE UNDERSIGNED, legal voters of respectfully request you to propose to all nations with whom we have intercourse, a provision in our treaties with them for referring to the decision of umpires all misunderstandings that cannot be satisfactorily adjusted by amicable negotiation. SOCIETY FOR THE REFORMATION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS OF NEW YORK. a ber admitted to the present date is 5,580, leaving over five thousand as the number of those who have received the benefit of its reformatory instruction and discipline. A few have been removed from our charge by death,* a small number transferred to the Alms House Department, some given up to friends, and the rest indented as apprentices during minority. The affairs of the Society are conducted by a Board of thirty Managers, elected annually by ballot, each subscriber to the Institution being entitled to a vote. In addition, a large Committee of ladies is annually appointed, a sub-committee of whom visit the Girls' House every week. Some of these ladies have served since the commencement of the operations of the Society, and their counsels and influence have been of incalculable value upon the hearts and minds and manners of the female inmates of the House of Refuge during all these years. The annual income of 24,000 or 25,000 dollars, is drawn from various sources, including a considerable amount derived from the labor of the boys. Though this Society has been in existence more than a quarter of a century, it has hitherto attracted but little attention from the editor of the Review. But the 28th report of the Managers having recently fallen into his hands, though presented about the beginning of the year, he has judged proper to furnish his readers with brief notice of this valuable association, derived It is not easy for us to estimate the good that from the above mentioned report. has been accomplished by the House of Refuge during the twenty-eight years that it has been in "The Society for the Prevention of Pauper-existence. A very large majority of its five thou ism," instituted in 1818, gave rise to this asso- sand graduates of both sexes have been saved ciation. The Managers of the Society, in the without doubt, whereas the greater part probably ministration of its beneficence, had had their at- would otherwise have been lost to themselves and tention directed particularly to the subject of ju- others, ruined for time and eternity, and fated, venile vagrancy, and to the condition of youth by the law of their moral nature, to spread, imprisoned for petty offences among the adepts wherever they should go, the leprosy of evil. and professors of crime. A committee of the One of the pleasantest circumstances connected Society, appointed in the year 1823, presented, with our labors is the evidence we are constantly in a report of masterly ability, a graphic picture receiving of an entire change of character that of these evils, and proposed a practical remedy has taken place in children who have been under in the plan of this Institution. The Society for our care, as shown by letters from them, by inthe Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents was formation from those with whom they are living, thereupon organized, which was incorporated by an Act of the Legislature, passed 1824. An appeal to the benevolence of our citizens was responded to by subscriptions to the amount of $16,000, to be swelled in subsequent years, by legacies, &c., to an amount exceeding $30,000. A piece of ground, containing about four acres, which had been ceded by the city to the United States for a Government Arsenal, was obtained, the city transferring the same to the Society for occupation as a House of Refuge, and the Society paying the United States $6,000, for the buildings that were upon it. The house was opened on the first day of the year 1825. Six boys and three girls were the number of children received into the house at the opening of its doors. In a few years, additional buildings being provided, the number increased to an average of two hundred. For several years past, the house has been constantly full-overflowingly so, in the Boys' Department-and accommodating, The following extract from the Physician's report, affords a moving view of the condition of some of the children, previously to their admission into this asylum: "Four deaths have occurred among the children in this Institution since the last Annual Report, viz., one from disease of the heart, and three from consump tion. All of them were children of a feeble constitution and of strumous habits. One or two of them came into the Refuge from the Alms House, where they had seen nothing but want and suffering; the others from the haunts of vice and misery. All were children of tender age, falling thus early victims to the grave by diseases brought on by early neglect and the want of the necessaries of life. Here they found a home, and with it many comforts which they had never before known. Here, too, they found sympathizing friends, who wearied not in their assiduous attentions to them during their long and painful illness. Their last days were made comfortable, and although their dying cheeks were not moistened with kindred tears, yet forts; and when their spirits fled, respectfully took the stranger hand was extended to them full of comtheir bodies and placed them peacefully in the grave.” |