documents among their friends and neighbours. As we circulate these papers gratuitously, we feel that we have a claim to be importunate with our readers to make the best possible use of them for the benefit of the respective societies; and we shall be glad to receive from them any suggestions upon the subject. VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. WHATEVER scenes may be ripening for future development upon the continent of Europe, none have as yet actually occurred which particularly demand our notice. We postpone therefore, for the present, any remarks upon the general aspect of European politics, though there are seve ral pending questions of great importance upon which we hope for some authentic information before the session of parliament closes; especially as relates to the part which our government has taken, or may take, in reference to Greece, Russia, Turkey, and Portugal. Turning westward, to America, there is a subject which at this moment excites much interest in that country, though it has not been thought of sufficient importance to be noticed by our journals;-we allude to the efforts in progress for expelling the North-American Indians still fur ther into the wilderness. The conduct of our Western kinsmen towards their Indian neighbours has never been the brightest page of their history; but we scarcely know of any project more unjustifiable than the attempt now in progress by the Union, in its corporate capacity, at the instance of one of its members, Georgia, to drive beyond the Mississippi the Cherokees; who are not only a harmless people, but, as our readers may see by an able address of one of their chiefs in another page of our present Number, are rapidly advancing in civilization, religion, and all that can strengthen and adorn a State. They are dwelling peaceably and prosperously upon the frontier allotments ceded to them by treaty in lieu of the vast forest inhabited by their fathers: whereas, if forced to relinquish their present habitations, and to seek refuge in the wilderness, they will rapidly melt away, as so many of the aborigines have already done before the aggressions of the White victor, and be heard of no more. To the honour of religion we rejoice to state, that Christian Missionaries in this, as in so many other instances, have been found the friends and protectors of the oppressed; and, we need scarcely add, have, in consequence, been accounted worthy to incur the reproaches of their oppressors. The secretary of war of the United States complains of the effects of education among the Indians, on account of its giving them a taste for the accumulation of property, "peculiar to a state of civilization;" and he affirms, that the Missionaries who have reclaimed these barbarous tribes from their roving preda tory habits, are actuated by base interested motives; and oppose their dispersion lest they themselves should lose their own "comfortable establishments" among them. The last crime we should have imputed either to our European missionaries, or to the Brainerds and Eliots, the Fisks and Judsons of America, was inordinately coveting "comfortable establishments! We conjure the friends of humanity and religion throughout America, to combine as one man in behalf of the now comparatively small remnant of the original natives of their far-extended territories. If they would learn their own strength, that moral strength which, when duly and perseveringly exerted, must sooner or later bear down interested opposition, they may witness an instance of it, and in a similar case, at this moment, in their once mother country. Dr. Philip, who went out to the Cape of Good Hope a weak and despised Christian Missionary, saw there the wrongs of the oppressed aborigines under the unequal laws of a professedly Christian colony: he returned home to plead their cause; he found access to benevolent senators, and to the government itself; and he has now gone back to the scene of his mission with the charter of their liberties in his hand,-an ample unstinted charter, from which even the United States themselves may learn the true nature of liberty; for it abolishes, if we are rightly informed, all civil distinctions among the free subjects of the same State, of whatever blood or colour: thus compacting all the members of the commonwealth into one united body. What Dr. Philip, and other humane and Christian men, have achieved for the oppressed Hottentot or Caffre-(we emphatically mention Dr. Philip as the prime agent in this work of mercy, but without meaning to derogate from the gratitude due to the other gentlemen who have conducted, and to his Majesty's government which has completed,it)—what these individuals, strong in moral power and religious principle, have effected in one quarter, others, with the same arms, and relying upon the gracious providence of God, may effect in others. For instance, let the friends of our two great religious societies connected with Newfoundland fearlessly take up the cause of the much-injured aborigines of that island; and, still more, let all the religious bodies connected with the WestIndies unshrinkingly devote themselves to obtain the legal abolition of that horrible tion. Our chief fear is that the landowner may refuse to do what is wise and equitable, till a general combination of the great majority of his countrymen forces him to do more than, under all the circumstances of the case, it is reasonable suddenly to require. system which grinds down the great mass of the objects of their benevolence; and we cannot doubt what will be the issue. And, even independently of the result, the labour itself will be no slight reward; nor will their efforts be less blessed for the souls of their afflicted fellow-creatures, because they had also the feelings of men and Christians for their temporal wrongs and sufferings. Having thus adverted to our slave colonies, we rejoice to state, that in one of them, Trinidad, his Majesty's government has issued an order relative to the free Coloured population, more simple, important, and effective, than we could almost have ventured at once to hope for. It places all freemen of African descent upon the footing of equal rights with their White neighbours, thus abolishing those tyrannical restrictions which made even liberty itself often little better than a name. But this law extends as yet only to one island; whereas Jamaica, Barbadoes, and the other islands, need it not less than Trinidad; and though in this favoured spot the freeman is now really as well as nominally free, yet even here, and at the Cape of Good Hope also, the slave is still a slave; and slavery is slavery, whether in the Mauritius or at the Cape, on the South-American continent or in the West-India islands. Let not then the friends of religion and humanity relax their efforts: our government, we would trust, wish to ascertain and to effect what is right, but public opinion must arm them with the power. The proceedings in parliament have embraced a variety of topics; a few only of which we can now touch upon. Some of them we purpose to notice more fully hereafter. Mr. O'Connell is declared incapable of sitting in parliament under the new act, without being re-elected. The revenue for the past year rather exceeds the estimates: no alteration in the system of taxation is intended to be made this session. Some animated debates have taken place on the silk trade and other subjects connected with commerce and manufactures, including the corn laws. These questions have been the more difficult to consider with calm attention at the present moment, owing to the extreme distress of several classes of manufacturers; but we think that government has acted wisely in refusing to impose prohibitory duties on foreign goods; a measure which, however humanely it may sound, especially at a time of temporary pressure, would not in the end be either politic or humane. We are not so well satisfied as to the policy or humanity of refusing to look further into the corn laws. If we allow Lyons to sell silk in London, we see not why in justice Spitalfields should not carry its wares to buy corn in Dantzic, or wherever else it pleases, to support its starving population, The subject requires, and must receive, much further considera Among the beneficial measures in progress in parliament, are the following:-A bill to provide a new system of police for the metropolis, which, though it is thought by some persons to give too much power and responsibility to government, seems absolutely necessary to supersede the present miserably disjointed and ineffective system;-A bill to allow of the summary conviction and punishment of juvenile offenders, in order to prevent their being further corrupted by imprisonment with hardened criminals ;-A bill to add a new judge, to assist the Court of Chancery; which is to be followed up by measures for improving the whole system of judicial administration ;-A bill to allow of the sale of game; a measure wise and equitable in itself, and, we trust, a prelude to still further amendments in our present barbarous code of game laws;—And a bill to facilitate anatomical studies, and to prevent assassination; by allowing the legal sale of unclaimed bodies, under regulations as little revolting perhaps as under all the difficult circumstances of the case could be framed. Government has granted a committee for investigating the system of self-elected parish vestries, which, to say the least, are always liable to the suspicion of abusing their powers. As a beneficial mean between the wild democracy of open vestries in large parishes, and the possible misrule of self-elected irresponsible bodies, we would recommend select vestries, annually elected by the parishioners, under the regulations of Mr. S. Bourne's act. This system is invariably found to work well. (See our last volume, p.664.) Government have agreed, next session, to consider the trade with India, with a view to determine to what extent the present restrictions ought to be abolished at the expiration of the East-India Company's charter. With equal wisdom, they have declined introducing poor laws into Ireland. Poor laws may relieve much distress; but they invariably generate far more than they relieve. Many of the wants of the poor arise from their own ignorance, improvidence, and ill-judged self-indulgence. Dr. Paley used to observe, that during all the time of scarcity, when he was weighing out his own brown bread to his family, "he had the mortification of seeing the poor people passing to and from the bakers with fine white cakes, dressed in all the pride of butter and currants," Allowing for the caricature of this representation, it may not unfairly exhibit the pitiable ignorance, improvidence, and illjudged self-indulgence, to which we have just alluded, and which poor laws must foster instead of correcting. It were an easy task for the government and legisla- tigatet his subject, and to legislate accordture indolently to enact a code of pauingly, at whatever temporary sacrifice. In perism for Ireland, instead of girding themselves to a course of far more laborious lightened system of political economy is a country thickly peopled like ours, an enand self-denying policy. They have fairly of indispensable importance to secure, to ask and to answer the following important inquiries: First, are the poor every even to the most praiseworthy members where, both in Great Britain and Ireland, diligence and good conduct. If, for exof the community, the due effect of their inclined to work diligently, and to live ample, the present distresses of our ma providently, in order to better their own condition? and if in any instances they of the individual, arose merely from unanufacturers, when not caused by the fault are not so, how may they be best elevated voidable fluctuations or providential visito this virtuous, religious, and honourable tations, no party would deserve blame; standard of character? Secondly, if so inclined, are they always sufficiently enbut if, as we are persuaded, powerful lelightened to know how best to attain their leviate the calamity, is it not a public crime gislative remedies might be framed to alobject; and if not, how may they be better if they are neglected? We might offer instructed? And, thirdly, when thus inclined, and thus enlightened, what are the present. One principle, not to mention many illustrations, but we forbear for the causes, within the scope of legislative remedy, which, unknown perhaps to them- policy;-the largest possible mutual interothers, ought to run throughout all our selves, impede the due effect of their in- change of all articles, at the will of the dustry and providence? This last parti- possessor, in the spirit of the Scripture cular is of great importance; for certain it is, that an honest, diligent, and frugal should do unto you, so do you unto them. maxim, Whatsoever ye would that men labourer, or mechanic, may be subjected What beneficial effects would not this one to insufficient wages, scanty food, and numerous privations, by circumstances not Divine precept produce, if applied to every within his own control, but which a wise manufactures, the fruits of the earth, labranch of legislation; to trade, commerce, legislature may be fully competent to ob- bour, colonization, slavery! viate. It is the duty of parliament to inves ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Communications have been received from A. B. C.; C.; JUSTITIA; K.; J. S.; A SCHOOLMASTER; IGNORANTIS; M. B.; CLERICUS; J. A.; OXONIENSIS ; N.; I. M.W.; R. S.; A CONSTANT READER; T. W.; C. L.; R. H.; L. C.; W. A. B.; CHARLES; W. A. S.; PROCUL; M. R.; and are under consideration. We are happy to learn, from the Committee for the Gipseys, that our insertion of their interesting appeal has so greatly benefited their cause. donations to Societies, but we readily acknowledge on their behalf an anonymous We cannot insert lists of gift of 201., with the initials G.-C. SUPPLEMENT TO RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. It is quite unnecessary for us to say one word in presenting to our readers the interesting addresses at the Annual Meeting of this most important of all our religious institutions. Truly the progress and beneficial effects of this invaluable Society, which has now completed a quarter of a century of duration, have been exceeding abundant above all that we could have asked or thought a few years since. May it flourish and increase, till its great work is accomplished! ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY. The Reporter for this month, in replying most convincingly and powerfully to the British Critic, furnishes much interesting and important intelligence relative to the Slave Colonies, and particularly as respects their moral and religious condition, and the lamentable supineness, to say the least, of our own Church and the Societies connected with it, to mitigate the evil. We rejoice to learn that our own former statements, and those of Mr. Riland and the Reporter, have not been without effect; and that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel has sent out a peremptory order to encourage marriage amongst their slaves; which is but the commencement of an entirely amended course of regulation. It seems to be now generally admitted by the friends of the Society, that almost all their former well-meant and oft-repeated regulations proved little better than waste paper on their arrival in Barbadoes. We shall rejoice to find that they are now fully prepared both to legislate to the full extent of their solemn obligations, and to see that their intentions are carried into effect. ESSAY ON SUPERSTITION. THE (Continued from p. 275.) HE next stage of our inquiry, in proceeding from the more simple to the more complicated results, will be to glance a little at the physiological phenomena of sleep; but more particularly to consider its morbid states. It would be right, were it possible, to define, in the first instance, in what consists simple, natural, healthy sleep, before we proceed to describe its pathological conditions, in order that the exact amount of the latter might be estimated by contrasting them with the former: but here, again, we find a limit placed to our investigation; for it is an inexplicable boon provided for the weary and the way-worn by the beneficent Creator, and so essentially interwoven with the constitution, as to be inseparable from its well-being, and to form a vital action, the precise nature of which is unknown. Its influence is a fundamental law impressed upon animal life; and all bow to its agency; but we know not why. It is the offspring of life, and, like its parent, is difficult, perhaps impossible, to be defined; and we must be contented with the scanty information we can obtain of its natural phenomena, and of the many deviations from its healthy state. In fact, it is far easier to say what it is not, than to describe wherein it consists. It is, however, important to re- mark, that it is not a state of absolute quiescence; for many organs of the body will continue to act on during sleep; and, indeed, will be possessed of a greater degree of activity than is customary, precisely because the intellectual function is less employed. Thus, all the processes on which the continuance of life depends go on uninterruptedly: the beating of the heart, and the heaving of the chest, are visible and tangible; the process of digestion is even more completely performed during sleep, than in the waking state, because more nervous energy can be then accumulated about the stomach than can be spared for the individual wants of this organ at a period when it is distributed among a variety of active functions. But let it be asked, whence is this continued supply of nervous energy derived? If from the brain, it surely must be one of those organs which does not enter into complete repose during sleep; and, admitting this, we shall be prepared to account for many of the disturbed phenomena of that process. The brain continues its unwearied action during sleep; but many of its intellectual manifestations are laid aside, or are so obscured by this state as not to be cognisable. It should seem, that as an intellectual organ it was more liable to exhaustion, than merely corporeal agent; and that, therefore, sleep had been provided 2 X as a more particularly for the repose of the intellectual brain: and this opinion is supported by the fact, that fatigue is induced much earlier when bodily exertion is accompanied by mental effort or emotion; more especially if that emotion be of a depressing character. A consequence of this law is, that in sleep the brain ceases to be the servant of the mind, or spiritual principle, and is no longer obedient to the will. For, as wakefulness may be defined to be a state of the brain in which the exercise of its functions is submitted to the will, with a consciousness of such submission; so sleep is the opposite state, during which there is a suspension of all possible intellectual action; and the entire brainular function is no longer under the influence of the will, nor in any way subjected to its controul. Thus sleep is provided for the restoration of the nervous system; and in its most healthy form is of a light character, easily disturbed; the organ immediately upon awakening entering upon the full tide of its functions. The reason is obvious, and shews the infinite wisdom of that Creative Power, which has surrounded us with wonders. During sleep, man is in a defenceless state; and if it were not easily disturbed, he would not be aware of the approach of danger; nor in an instant capable of taking the necessary precautionary measures of escape or defence. This is easily seen by watching the heavy slumber of an oppressed brain, and the sudden wakening, not to the energy of action, but to dulness and stupidity of perception, and to generally feeble or perverted manifestations. This repose of the brain is often incomplete; and then, though the organ be wholly or partially abstracted from the influence of the will, it nevertheless continues a certain kind of action, without the guidance and direction of the judgment: unrefreshing sleep is the result; and its subject rises in the morning wearied, with enfeebled powers of the body, and with greatly diminished capacity for the manifestations of mind. The arrival of sleep may be evaded for a considerable time, by various stimuli; but, after a certain interval, longer or shorter according to the idiosyncracy of the individual, nature claims her prerogative: her voice will be heard; and the invasion of sleep becomes irresistible. But when it takes place under such circumstances, it is generally oppressive, and does not recruit exhausted power, since the brain has been irritated by previous excitants; and when itself, or any of the organs with which it stands connected, are in a state of irritation, quiet sleep is not to be expected. As the invasion of sleep may thus be warded off for a considerable time by the agency of various stimuli; so a state of morbid vigilance may be produced by certain conditions of the brain, and by various other exciting causes. Thus, acute irritation of the brain, even when attended by power on the part of the constitution, will produce it. Opium exhibited for this purpose will occasion it. In the opposite state of the system, in which excitation is produced without power to support it, the degree of nervous irritability will be such as to render sleep impossible, till calm has been obtained; and the same effects will be produced by the agency of green tea, coffee, and other stimulants. Now it is quite impossible that these causes, to which many others might be added, can all agree in the possession of one common property, by which wakefulness is produced; or that the vigilance so created can admit of a similar treatment. if not, the brain may be variously irritated by different disturbing causes: and these causes may operate effects upon its physiological function with which we are at present unacquainted; because we know not the manner in which the connection between the brain and its But |