by the congregated Sovereigns of Europe, that from the 1st of June, 1820, they will treat the crime of Slave-trading as piracy; and by this means, simple and easy as it is, the liberation of Africa will be certain and complete. When at last the Slave Trader is stamped with the character and subjected to the pus nishment of the pirate, slave trading will soon be as rare an occurrence in the world, as other kinds of piracy are at this day.

No possible objection can be raised to this remedy in point of reason or justice. It is no more than a necessary conformity to principles already established. Rob bery on the high seas, or murder, or violence with intent to rob, is piracy. But slave trading always involves manstealing and murder. Even on the passage, its murders are numerous. In the most favour able circumstances, numbers pe rish miserably from the dire effect of their cruel imprisonment. When, therefore, the trade is prohibited by law, it would be improper to treat it as less than a capital of fence; and when declared to be contrary to the general law of na. tions, it becomes like other piracies, a crime which all have the right and the duty to restrain.

This course is also strongly recommended by its simplicity and convenience.

Every maritime state has laws already framed against pirates, and modes of trial already instituted. No complicated.. arrangements would, therefore, be required for giving effect to the concurrent decree of the great powers of Eu rope on this subject. The Slave Trader being marked as a pirate, an enemy of the human race, would find his station without difficulty amongst felons of the worst description; and his crime would meet with its just reward, that of the robber and murderer.

The period proposed for commencing this system would leave abundant time for persons now engaged in the Slave Trade to with

draw from it. Those, therefore, would be left wholly without excuse who should afterwards be found thus offending against the public law of nations, founded upon, and declaratory of, the law of nature and of God.

Although this plan should be adopted, it will still be necessary that a vigilant superintendance should be exercised over the conduct of the trade, during the period it is still permitted to continue, and perhaps for a few years afterwards. Without this, the trade would be so eagerly pursued during the term still allowed it, that probably a greater sum of misery would be crowded into the remaining months of its existence, than the world has yet witnessed in the same space of time. Would it not, therefore, be desirable that the maritime powers of Europe should agree to equip small squadrons for the protection of Africa; which, dispersed along her shores, should rigidly enforce the observance of all the existing regulations and prohibitions with respect to the Slave Trade? Its extent would thus be kept, while it lasted, within its appointed limits; and after it had ceased to be legal in any case, the frequent visits of such squadrons would render the attempt to renew it utterly hopeless. personal risk would be of too serious a kind to be any longer deliberately encountered by so many individuals as must concur in preparing the piratical expedition, and in forming the crew of the slave ship. Then should we behold the delightful spectacle of ships of war of different nations meeting on the ocean, not as enemies, but as friends; not to destroy men's lives, too often for mistaken or worthless objects, but at once to rescue, to enlighten, and to bless mankind.

The

And now, illustrious and generous Potentates, will you permit the Author of this Address humbly to remind you, that the measures which have been proposed to you, great and noble as they undoubt

edly are in themselves, are peculiarly worthy of your elevated stations. By decreeing the adoption of them, you would be fulfilling, in an eminent degree, those duties which the page of Revelation as signs as the high and appropriate obligation of the supreme power in every state: you would become at once 66 a terror to evil doers" and "the ministers of God for good," to the most oppressed and miserable of the human race.

To you, then, illustrious Poten tates, humanity looks up as the vicegerents of that Power, whose very essence is benevolence: and it is humbly conceived, that upon you, above all other monarchs; upon you, over whom the shield of Providence has been so palpably extended, and for whom the arm of Omnipotence has so manifestly fought, the great interests of mankind have a peculiar claim. Dedicate, then, on the shrine of Mercy and Justice, the noblest offering that confederate princes ever offered there. Thus will you encircle your names with a radiance more bright than the jewels of your crowns, and more unfading than the laurels of your victories; a ra diance which will as much eclipse the splendour of all ordinary fame, as the two continents which your power and clemency will have liberated and blessed, exceed in extent the limits within which the efforts of other philanthropists have been allowed to operate.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer, THAT " in no seat of education the institutions for the encouragement and promotion of true science and sound learning are better planned, or more effectually conducted, than in the University of Cambridge," all impartial all impartial observers must, I think, willingly confess and that slander has represented the evils existing in that university, in many instances, in exaggerated terms, is also, I fear, too true. Still, however, I, as an un

der-graduate of that body, am compelled to acknowledge, that the statements in defence of her discipline, by a correspondent of yours, in your Number for September, are, in many instances, erroneous; and, on the whole, will appear to most minds unsatisfactory. Sure I am, that Alma Mater will not be ultimately benefited by concealing or palliating the positive evils that abound within her precincts, or by erroneous statements in defence of her discipline. Could I believe this, I should be the last to step forward and lay open to the world her blemishes; but, smarting as I now do, under circumstances which I can confidently assert, would never have occurred had her discipline been what it ought to be, or even as strict as that of our sister university, I lay aside all false de licacy on the subject, and proceed to prove by facts well known to all who, like myself, have entered on their third year's residence in statu pupillari, that the present state of discipline is by no means efficacious to the extirpation, or even the decent suppression, of vice and im morality amongst her students.

For the satisfaction of all lovers of truth, I shall oppose a few facts to each of the points of defence chosen by "A North Countryman" in his paper in your Number for September. With respect to the simple fact, that, at the very lowest estimate, one half of Trinity and St. John's College students, with no inconsiderable number from the minor colleges, are scattered up and down our streets in lodging-houses, it is surprising to me that any one could have resided in the university for any considerable period, and not have discovered the extensive evil of such a procedure. Let it be granted that students so situated, are under the "control" of their superiors; yet experience has shewn me, and every one who has fairly considered the case must perceive, that they are not, and cannot be so much under the ob

66

servation of the seniors as they ought to be, or even as those members who live within the college walls. In proof of this statement, it needs only be observed, that the regulations respecting lodginghouses, on which your correspondent so greatly relies, are not only easily evaded, but are actually well-known to be constantly violated by proprietors of lodgings with perfect impunity! Let one instance within the compass of my own observation, and by no means á solitary one, suffice:-a proprietor of a lodging-house is in the habit of bringing up the gate-bill," which should declare the exact hour at which his inmate returns home every evening, to the young man himself, whom he requests to fill it up at his own discretion! In many other instances, it might easily be proved, that false gatebills are constantly sent in; and who will doubt it, when he considers the circumstances of the householder and his lodger? If the former be entirely dependant on the tutor and senior fellows for success in his business, he will not risk the loss of their interest to oblige the latter; but, if the reverse be the case, which is quite as common, and the young man's patronage is equivalent, or more than equivalent, to that of his superiors, it is manifest how easily the present rules and regulations may be avoided. One circumstance of additional aggravation to this system, is not noticed by your correspondent; namely, that the persons who wait on the young men at lodging-houses, are, in too numerous instances, young women, and they bearing a bad character! I know this to be a fact. If any one is disposed to doubt it, let him account for that clause which invariably appears in advertisements in our newspaper for servants, by persons of respectability in our town-" No Cambridge person need apply!"

Perhaps, my readers are by this - CHRIST, OBSERV. No. 203.

time satisfied, that "A North Countryman" is wrong in his opinion, that building is not so necessary as some persons seem to imagine. If they wish to have an additional proof of this statement, let them know, that from the class of persons above alluded to, it is, that our streets are in a great measure filled with the nuisances which will be complained of in their order. I leave these facts with the public.

With respect to drunkenness, "A North Countryman" must either have very strange ideas of its heinousness in the sight of God, or have been very ill-informed concerning the administration of punishment to offenders of this class. All the penalty incurred by being found a creator or a partaker of a drunken riot in our streets, is a few lines of some Greek or Latin author to translate, or to commit to memory; a punishment that any school-boy would laugh at: a second or third offence may incur an additional number of lines, or confinement to college walls for a few days. The constant occurrence of riots

of this description in our streets, and the many gownsmen we meet quite inebriated, prove how far, to use your correspondent's words, drunkenness is discouraged and punished!"

66

Your correspondent's answer to "A Westmorland Yeoman's" third inquiry is as unsatisfactory as, from existing circumstances, might have been expected. Laying all other charges against our university aside, what can we find to vindicate the state of our streets? Can "A North Countryman," or can any individual endued with common decency, affirm, that they do not swarm with characters of the very worst description? Can he say, that vice with unblushing impudence does not insult our eyes every hour of the day? Can he deny, that from dusk till midnight, our streets are in a state which would disgrace any town, . 5 A

even where no vice-chancellor and proctors existed to aid the civil authorities? If it be a necessary evil, that characters of the most likely cast to allure young men to their utter ruin, should swarm in our suburbs, surely every under graduate has a right to lift up his voice, and demand that he should not be compelled to submit to the attacks of vice; and that the streets at least, of a seat of so much learn ing, should be kept clear from sugh a nuisance. I hope and trust, that Oxford's better example will never cease to be rung in our ears, until our chief magistrate, and our spiritual rulers, listen to the just demand of parents and guardians, aided by the voice of the well-disposed part of their children themselves, to clear our streets from vice, and at least not to put temptation in the way of youth.

With regard to the possibility of abolishing the system of lodging, houses, which is productive of so much evil, I have been led to ima. gine, that no such impracticability exists, as your correspondent seems to imagine. A senior fellow of a college mentioned to me not long since, that an offer had been made to the university by an architect, to build, on no very extravagant terms, a sort of university "hôtel," capacious enough to contain the overflowings of all the colleges, and which might have a gate-bill and regular porter, and, in short, be on the same principle as the col, leges themselves. This offer was, however, refused. One thing is clear, that if the university would only advance the money, the building would pay itself; particularly if they adopted the plan of making the students who should reside in it, pay for their rooms at the same rate as they pay for lodgings. I communicate this circumstance, to shew,that the undertaking is neither 80 gigantic" nor so "ideal" as some persons might imagine.

"

Your correspondent's remark, respecting female bed-makers, is the most particularly erroneous of

all. Had he said, that the greater part of those who are employed, at Trinity and Christ's colleges espe cially, are young women, he would have been nearer the truth.

I shall only add, that having glanced at each of the most striking evils of our university discipline, it is fair to add, that for this year, two pro-proctors, and two addi tional proctors' men, are proposed to be elected ; and that, since the unfortunate occurrence alluded to by your correspondent towards the close of his paper, the "heads" seem to have been gradually adopting measures, by introducing gatebills at the lodging-bouses, and by proposing additional proctors, for the better discipline of the place.

In conclusion, I wish to suggest, that no motive has led me to state thus much, except an earnest de sire that the faults and blemishes of our university may be removed; and that, by laying open what may be considered as objectionable in her to the eyes of the world, the seniors may be induced to adopt such efficacious measures as shall raise her as high in a moral, as she is now in an intellectual, point of view: thus would the desirable in tentions of the pious founders of our colleges be most effectually promoted.

AN UNDER-GRADUATE

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. MR. BELLAMY's assertion, that Luther's German translation was made from the Vulgate, is only one among many instances in which he betrays an ignorance of the history of Biblical translations, unbecom ing the author of an improved English version. Luther certainly translated directly from the He brew; for the copy of the Hebrew Bible which he used is preserved in the royal library at Berlin: it is the edition of the whole Old Test Buxiæ, 8vo. 1494. This copy was collated for Dr. Kengicott, by Schulze, a German, who published a tract on the value of this edi

tion, and dedicated it to Kenni cott. This copy of the Bible is marked in Kennicott, 264; and had Mr. Bellamy consulted his dis sertatio generalis, he would not have made the assertion of which several of your correspondents have complained.

Allow me further to remark, that I have observed, that our Authorized Version of the Old Testament generally agrees with the Munster edition of the Hebrew Bible, when there is any difference

in the printed texts; and though I believe it is not any where recorded, what edition our translators followed (for they were not aware, I imagine, of any difference in the printed text) I believe it was Bib. Munsteri. Heb. Lat. fol. Basil, 2

vols. 1546. I think I could offer some proof in support of this conjecture; but I should be obliged to any of your correspondents who would favour me with any interesting information on the subject. G. H.

An Examination of the Doctrines of Calvin: a Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of St. Martin, Leicester, on Thursday, the 2d of July, 1818, at the Triennial Visitation of the Lord Bishop of Lincoln. To which is added, the Doctrine of Necessity, briefly considered. By the Rev. JAMES BERESFORD, Rector of Kibworth, Leicestershire; and late Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. London: Hatchard. pp. 67.

1818.

A Ready Reply to an Irish Enquiry: or, a convincing and conclusive Confutation of Calvinism. To which is subjoined, Ieropai deia: or, the true Method of Teaching the Clergy of the Established Church, being a wholesome Theological Cathartic to purge the Church of the Predestinarian Pestilence. By A CLEGYMAN OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. London: Whittimore. pp. 357. 1818.

WHEN the Reverend Rector of Kibworth, and Fellow of Merton College condescended to amuse the world with his well-known "Miseries,"we almost wonder it did not occur to him, as an author, that an interesting chapter might have been added on the Miseries of Re

viewers. Like a wise instructor, however, he has seen fit to teach us this lesson by example instead of precept, and we are consequently much indebted to him for some valuable practical illustrations of the art of teasing periodical critics.

For example (Misery 1.): A preacher of a visitation sermon takes for his text "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men," and, after a suitable exordium, proposes, as the subject of his discourse, "to examine whether the doctrines of Calvin, as laid down in his Institutes, do really, as asserted by those who hold them, contain the truth of God exactly as we find it in the word of God." This plan of preaching a sermon, which has nothing to do with the text, nay, which opposes its very spirit, is the more admirable because of the disap. pointment which it must have caused, not to reviewers only, but to those "Methodists" or "Calvinists," if any such were present, who came to St. Martin's church, in hopes of hearing a sound, practical discourse, which might have sent them back to their respective parishes, with hearts raised above vain janglings and speculations, to peaceful, active, self-denying piety: and might have inculcated that