insatiable, that having exterminated the natives of one hemisphere in the lawless pursuit of gain, she with a fiend-like rapacity sought for fresh victims in helpless Africa, dragging them across the Atlantic to share the same miserable fate, and adding to these enormities, at first the hypocrisy of benevolence, and, when that failed, the blasphemy of denying to men created in the image of their Maker the dignity and the rights of manhood.

It is painful to remember that, in the perpetration of these atrocities, Great Britain once took a prominent part; and that, notwithstanding her sincere though late repentance, the mischief of her example still operates among other nations far less disposed to imitate the costly sacrifices she has since made towards the expiation of her guilt.

Great, indeed, have been the efforts of this country to redress the wrongs of Africa, from the period when first the venerable Clarkson among the people, and the sainted Wilberforce within the walls of Parliament, made the ears of all classes to tingle with the horrors of the accursed traffic. Their struggle was long and arduous, but the day of victory at length arrived, and the British Slave Trade was blotted out for ever from the list of national offences. Since that period Great Britain has never wanted hearts to feel, nor hands to labour, nor tongues to plead, both eloquently and well, on behalf of the enslaved and suffering sons of Africa. The recent emancipation of 800,000 slaves at a cost of 20,000,000l. sterling, and indefatigable, but hitherto unsuccessful exertions, in connexion with other Great Powers, during upwards of thirty years, for the extinction of the Foreign Slave Trade, exhibit specimens of national compunction and penitence such as no other age of the world can show, though still far from commensurate with the greatness of her guilt.

But merely compulsory methods have confessedly failed, and the Slave Traffic now rages with terrific and still increasing fury.

And is there, then, no method of staying the wide-spreading plague? This question has long engaged the attention of British philanthropists; and, however much they differ about the means of applying the remedy, all appear to agree in the necessity of employing one of a strictly benevolent and pacific character; and no considerate person will, probably, deny that the wounds of Africa can never be effectually healed but by imparting to her children the blessings of Christianity and civilization.

To sentiments of this description, "THE SOCIETY FOR THE EXTINCTION OF THE SLAVE TRADE, AND FOR THE CIVILIZATION OF AFRICA," adopting the benevolent and pacific portion of Sir Fowell Buxton's plan, owes its existence. Its selected sphere of labour is the continent of Africa; and its principles and plans, as stated in its Prospectus and the Epitome of its objects, are before the public. It may suffice for the present, in reference to these, to add, that its choice has been made, and its plans adopted, with a full appreciation of other plans for similar objects, and a just estimate of the zeal, energy, and usefulness of those who are engaged in carrying them into execution.

Among the motives, however, which have led to a preference of its own sphere of duty, may be mentioned, a firm conviction of the paramount claims of Africa, on the score of imperative justice, to immediate and energetic efforts on her behalf: a persuasion of the practical efficacy of

the plans adopted: a confidence that the blessings proposed to be imparted to Africa will prove of equal advantage to Great Britain: and a pleasing consciousness, that, in occupying this truly important and hitherto neglected ground, they are contributing to the extinction of the Slave Trade and Slavery throughout the world.

With a view of more effectually realizing these great objects, THE FRIEND OF AFRICA is now published.

To anticipate all the various topics which may hereafter be introduced into this publication would be manifestly impossible. Its principal duty will be to record the proceedings of the Parent Society and of its auxiliary branches, as well as of the important Expedition about to sail for the Niger; and to circulate such information as may tend to keep alive the interest of Great Britain in the suppression of the Slave Trade and the welfare of Africa. But its labours will not be wholly confined to these subjects. It was not to be supposed that the principles, objects, and plans of the African Civilization Society, would entirely escape misconception; nor at once command universal approbation. To rectify mistakes, and, if possible, to remove unfavourable impressions, must obviously become a portion of its duty,-a duty to be exercised with candour, suited to the consciousness of a common liability to error, yet with confidence, derived from the great and distinguished names which have already lent their sanction to the views it may be called upon to defend.

To a few only of these explanatory topics can a moment's attention be now directed.

It is matter of little surprise that the intimate connexion subsisting between the objects of the approaching Expedition to the Niger, and the plans of this Society, should have induced some persons to attribute to it a political and party character. It must surely, however, be obvious, that a Society composed of individuals professing the utmost diversity of opinion upon all other topics than the single one which unites them. together, can belong to no political or religious party whatever; and it ought in fairness to be inferred, that, however grateful for the munificent support it may receive, it can entertain no relations whatever which are not compatible with perfect freedom and independence of action.

The extreme importance of a correct understanding as to the course of the Society with regard to religion, calls for a distinct notice of that subject. While the Society fully recognises the supreme importance of the diffusion of Christianity in Africa, and is persuaded that the successful prosecution of its appropriate objects will open the door for the missionary's entrance, and in various ways indirectly facilitate his operations, it is constrained, for the reasons assigned in the Prospectus, not itself directly to exercise the functions of a teacher of religion.

To prevent all future misconception on the subject of commerce, it may be proper to repeat that this Society is, by its constitution, absolutely prohibited from every species of commercial speculation; and that the success of its plans depends essentially upon the encouragement of open competition, and free trade in its largest and most liberal

sense.

A reference to the plans of this Society will further show that neither colonization nor emigration, in the ordinary acceptation of these

terms, enter into its arrangements; the object being, not to introduce a new population, but to educate and improve the old; and in effecting this, to employ, as far as possible, natives and descendants of the African race.

The degree of success with which it may please Providence to crown the efforts thus made must be left to time and events to decide. Of the gigantic nature of the evils to be encountered, and the difficulty of approaching them, this Society has, from its commencement, been most deeply convinced; but so long as these obstacles do not appear to be insurmountable, it is not permitted to the survivors, the representatives, and the friends of those illustrious men who won the arduous and protracted victory over the British Slave Trade and British slavery, to decline the onset. And it is peculiarly encouraging to know that, in the opinion of such men as Clarkson, Lushington, Inglis, Allen, and many more of the earliest, warmest, and most judicious friends of Africa, the means suggested by Sir Fowell Buxton, and proposed to be now employed, besides being now brought into operation under peculiarly favourable circumstances which never before existed, are in themselves calculated to prove eminently efficacious.

The length of the previous observations leaves no room for a concluding appeal on behalf of Africa, and it may be hoped that none will be needed.

If the spectacle of a vast continent, once foremost in arts and sciences, but now thrown far behind in the march of civilization, excités no compassion for its future welfare-if the increasing horrors of a traffic which annually sweeps hundreds of thousands of unoffending beings into slavery or eternity, and dooms the countries from whence they are torn to the terror of perpetual alarms, entailing, moreover, the curse of endless barbarism, kindle no indignation, and provoke no effort for their deliverance-if the sense of deepest national responsibility, incurred by long participation in the guilt and the gains of the man-stealer, produce no compunction, and suggest no thoughts of ample reparation, or if, on the other hand, the powerful influences of Christianity, combined with the beneficial influence of enlightened self-love, acting upon the resources of a continent still teeming with inhabitants, endowed with incomparable fertility, and offering the richest rewards to free agricultural industry and legitimate commerce, justify no hopes, and afford no probable or allowable means of promoting the moral and social improvement of Africa,-then might it be feared that further arguments would be urged in vain. But past events have shown the fallacy of these hypotheses, and have proved the progressive interest felt, both in this country and upon the continent of Europe, in plans like these for rendering justice to Africa. Nothing, therefore, remains but to commend them earnestly, though in no exclusive spirit, to the fervent prayers and the generous and persevering exertions of a philanthropic public; with a conviction that they still leave ample scope to the useful efforts of kindred societies, and with an unfailing confidence in the expansive power of Christian charity to furnish adequate funds for the encouragement and support of all suitable means for the advancement of this righteous cause.

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its Remedy, at a reduced price, as also an abridgment of it, and have caused the work to be translated into French and German.

Auxiliary Societies have also been established in different parts of the country, and agents engaged to make known its objects. But the chief attention of the Committee has been directed to a cordial co-operation with Her Majesty's Government in the equipment of the Niger Expedition,-in selecting and engaging the services of scientific men in every department of natural history to accompany it,-in preparing vocabularies (as far as can possibly be done in this country) of the principal languages of Western and Central Africa, -and otherwise in carrying out to the fullest extent the views of the Committee, as explained in the following

PROSPECTUS.

In the year 1807 Great Britain prohibited all her subjects from engaging in the Slave Trade, and the Legislature of this country, in accordance with the voice of the people, repudiated a commerce which had produced more crime and misery than, perhaps, any other single cause of guilt and iniquity; but neither the Government nor the Legislature, nor the subjects of this realm, were satisfied with a mere cessation from crime.

Remembering how deeply, in times of comparative ignorance, we had sustained and augmented this trade, so repugnant to every Christian principle and feeling, the nation determined to use its utmost influence, and expend its resources, in the noble attempt to extinguish it for ever.

The compass of this address will not allow even of the most compendious statement of the measures resorted to, of the treaties concluded with foreign powers, of the moneys expended, and the various other efforts made to effect this object; suffice it to say that, since the year 1807, all the great Powers of Europe have been induced by Great Britain to unite in expressing their abhorrence of this traffic; and, with all, treaties more or less stringent have been made for its extinction.

The United States of America, though from political reasons they have declined any actual co-operation, have not the less denounced and prohibited all traffic in slaves from Africa. Great Britain has expended, in bounties alone, upwards of 940,000l., and, in the maintenance of the courts established for the adjudication of

| captured slaves, above 330,000%., besides a very large sum annually in supporting a considerable force of cruizers in various parts of the globe to intercept and destroy the traffic*. An infinitely more important sacrifice has been made in the loss of British life, which has been necessarily incurred in pursuing this object. The result, the melancholy result, remains to be stated. The traffic has not been extinguished, has not been diminished, but, by the latest accounts from which any estimate can be correctly formed, the numbers exported have increased-the destruction of human life, and all the guilt and misery consequent thereon, have been fearfully augmented; and at the same time it may be stated, that the numbers exported from Africa are, as compared with the year 1807, as two to one, and that the annual loss of life has risen from seventeen to twenty-five.

Let no man, however, say that these efforts have been thrown away. Who can tell how fearful might not have been the amount of enormity, if those exertions had not been made? Who would presume to say that the very assertion of the great principles of justice and truth has not accelerated the final extirpation of those detested practices? Who could venture to assert that a criminal inaction on the part of Great Britain might not have caused an indefinite continuance of the guilt on the part of other nations?

But the people of England have not succeeded to the extent of their wishes:

Assuming it to be so, what remains to be done-but, led on by the same Christian principles, the same devotion to truth, justice, and humanity, to continue our efforts, and to apply, if possible, other and more efficient remedies in accordance with these great principles?

Animated by these feelings, a number of Noblemen and Gentlemen of all political opinions, and of Christian persuasions of divers kinds, have formed themselves into a Society for the purpose of effecting the extinction of the Slave Trade; and they now call on the public to unite their exertions for the accomplishment of this great end.

That the British public, apprised of the extent of the enormity, and deeply feeling the guilt and misery now prevailing, will receive with favour the announcement of the formation of this Society, no doubt is entertained; but various opinions do and

This expenditure, together with that caused by the payments to Foreign Powers on account of the Slave Trade for the support of liberated Africans, from official documents to have amounted to upwards and for other incidental expenses, may be shown of fifteen millions sterling.