equitable treatment of the free blacks in the northern States, and that there is some little prospect of religion becoming auxiliary to the abolition of slavery in the southern; a prospect, indistinct and dim I confess, but which may possibly brighten and become clear. A sensible, pious woman, resident near Charlottesville in Virginia, told me that though Virginia was her native State, and the one she had always lived in, she should prefer having a home in one not disgraced by slavery. She said, that she could neither reconcile slavery, nor the contemptuous treatment of the free coloured people, with the precepts of the gospel; and that she endeavoured as far as she could, to diffuse more liberal opinions respecting them. I know not to what denomination of Christians she belonged, but she seemed to me to possess several Christian virtues. I may also refer to the example of the farmer near the Dismal Swamp, who so hospitably entertained me, as another proof that the subject of slavery claims the serious attention of a few religious persons who wish to see a lustration of the land. In the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, two measures have been recently proposed, which also tend to show, that the subject will ere long, be forced on the attention of those who profess religion. One was, to

exclude all slave holders from the ministry; the other, to deny communion to slave traders. Both these proposals were, as was to be supposed, negatived; but the very making of them is a good symptom. I anticipate some exertions amongst the Methodists also. And though my fears of a beneficial result exceed my hopes, yet, if the members of the Colonization Society will but co-operate, my views will be materially altered. The continuance of the society on its present footing, I regard as inimical to the welfare of the country. As however, I know that many members of the society are actuated by what they believe to be pure motives, I will mention a circumstance to show how mistaken men may be in the proper line of policy, and into what inconsistencies they may fall even when labouring in what they suppose to be the cause of philanthropy. I was present at a private meeting of several of the clergy at Norfolk, who were assembled for the purpose of considering the best means of aiding the Bible Society, the Colonization Society, and the Society for the Conversion of the Jews. With respect to the first, I concurred in their views, for though I can perceive several objectionable matters in the Bible Society, yet as its main object is favourable to the improvement of mankind, I readily

wave minor objections. As to the Colonization Society, for the reasons I have given I could not unite with them. One reason urged by them in its favour was, that it is unfavourable to the common welfare to have a separate body existing in the country; and as the blacks must continue a separate body, it would be to their advantage, as well as to the advantage of the whites, for them to be transported to a country where the inhabitants were like themselves. And yet while these clergymen were for promoting the emigration of the blacks, they were also for encouraging the immigration of the Jews; though they must have known that no people in the world are more careful to keep themselves distinct. I know of no particular harm to a community in the existence of distinct classes, provided they have equal rights. What is wanted therefore, is neither the transportation of the Jews from Europe to America, nor of the blacks from America to Africa. All that is wanted is that equality of rights, which both continents refuse to the objects of their respective prejudices. The application of another remedy is injurious, inasmuch as it must be very partial, and has a tendency to withdraw the attention from the radical one.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

WHEN We consider the prodigious extent of the United States, and of the numerous British colonies in North America, the West Indies, Africa and Australia, we may infer that the English language will be spoken by more millions of people, than any other in the world. The Spanish, the French and the Russian languages will be spoken by many millions more than they now are; but it appears unlikely that they will be either so widely diffused, or used by so numerous a population as the English. Even the Chinese, though at present the predominant language, will probably in a few centuries yield the supremacy to the English. Under these circumstances, it is a subject of speculation whether it will not more and more branch into distinct dialects. At first sight we might suppose that this will be the case, but when we reflect on the communication subsisting between the various countries where it prevails, and bear in mind that the standard and popular authors of England, are read in all of them, we may be led to

draw a different conclusion. Slight differences must necessarily prevail; but perhaps these may increase its copiousness, without diminishing its beauty or destroying its unity.

The United States having been peopled from different parts of England and Ireland, the peculiarities of the various districts have in a great measure ceased. As far as pronunciation is concerned, the mass of people speak better English, than the mass of people in England. This I know will startle some, but its correctness will become manifest when I state, that in no part, except in those occupied by the descendants of the Dutch and German settlers, is any unintelligible jargon in vogue. We hear nothing so bad in America as the Suffolk whine, the Yorkshire clipping, or the Newcastle guttural. We never hear the letter H aspirated improperly, nor omitted to be aspirated where propriety requires it. The common pronunciation approximates to that of the well educated class of London and its vicinity. But it must not be supposed that there is a perfect uniformity of pronunciation throughout the country. There is a marked difference for instance, between Connecticut and Virginia; not so much however in the accentuation of words, nor in the length of the vowel sounds, as