he has neglected us in a case of the greatest importance. Admit that he hath forsaken us, yet it could not have been without a just cause. Let us suppose that a heinous crime was committed by one of our ancestors, like to that which we are told happened among another race of people; in such a case, God would certainly punish the criminal, but would never involve us who are innocent in his guilt. Those who think otherwise must make the Almighty a very whimsical, ill-natured being.

"Once more, are the Christians more virtuous? or rather, are they not more vicious than we are? If so, how came it to pass that they are the objects of God's beneficence, while we are neglected? Does the Deity confer his favors without reason, and with so much partiality? In a word, we find the Christians much more depraved in their morals than ourselves, and we judge of their doctrine by the badness of their lives." Proud's Hist. of Pennsylvania, Vol. ii. pages 313-15.

Mr. Proud says this "has, been printed in Pennsylvania as a genuine speech of an In

dian Chief in that Province. But whether it be really so, or not, it certainly contains arguments which have been used by some of these people." The last paragraph deserves the serious attention of all our countrymen, as it probably suggests the principal reason why the attempts to Christianise the Indians have been so ineffectual. The Missionaries to the Indians have probably been men of exemplary deportment; but this is not sufficient to convince the Indians that our religion is of the most benevolent character, while so great a part of the white people with whom they have intercourse, are men of depraved morals, and disposed to cheat and injure them. Besides, our inhuman and exterminating wars against the Indians from age to age, must have had a powerful influence to prepossess the survivers of the unhappy tribes against the white people, and against the religion which they profess. How can they believe that we are under the influence of a beneficent and peaceful religion, while our conduct towards them is of such a cruel and revengeful character ?

Anniversary Festivals Festivals in commemoration of remarkable Occurrences of Providence, originated probably in a Divine Institution. The Passover of the Israelites was the first Festival of the kind which is recorded in history.

A

to

particular account of this is given in the twelth chapter of Exodus. Its object was perpetuate a remembrance of the goodness of God in that event which effected the emancipation of the Israelites from their servitude to Pharaoh.

Many extraordinary judgements had been infiicted on the Egyptians prior to the destruction of their first born, and all for the purpose of in ducing the monarch to comply with the mandate of God, to let the Israelites depart out of Egypt. But these had proved ineffectual. Another ca lamity was about to be inflict ed, which God foresaw would produce the intended effect. Of this he informed Moses, and also directed him what to do, that the Israelites might escape the calamity which was coming upon the land, in the death of all the first born of the Egyptians. At the same time he appointed a memorial of his goodness, which was to be annually observed by the Israelites from age to age.

After God had described the ceremonies of the Passover, Moses said to the children of Israel" And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons forever. And it shall come to pass when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall

say

unto you, What mean ye by this service? that ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians and delivered our houses."

From the whole account it is very evident, that this Festival was to be observed in a manner strictly religious-in

a manner adapted to excite and perpetuate a grateful sense of the obligations which the Israelites were under to God as their Deliverer from oppression.

We shall not pretend that the people of this country are under any obligations to adopt the ceremonies of the Passover, in any of their Anniversary celebrations. But if we commemorate, in any form, remarkable displays of Divine benignity towards our country, can any Christian deny, that it should be done in that manner which will be most honorary and acceptable to God?

The Declaration of Independence is perhaps more. generally celebrated in this country by an Anniversary Festival than any other event. We do not object to a grateful observance of the Fourth of July as a memorial of that Declaration. Perhaps, however it would have been as proper and more useful to have selected the day on which the Treaty of Peace was signed, which ratified the Declaration of Independance, and put an end to the calamities through which our country passed in the struggle for liberty. But whatever event is commemorated as an expression of Divine mercy, or whatever day is selected for the celebration, it is undeniable that our first care should be, to glorify and please that God who is the source of all our blessings. The conduct of people on these occasions, and all the public performances,

longing our liberty and independence. On the plan proposed our anniversaries would be far more likely to meet the approbation of God, whose favor is life. They would also tend to eradicate those national and party prejudices which endanger the peace of the country, and consequently en danger our rights, our free dom and independence. So far as our celebrations partake of the nature of boasting, and are devoted to the purpose of exciting malignant and warring passions, they must be offensive to God, and unbecoming a Christian people.

The case of the enslaved Africans, if duly considered, would have a powerful tendency to restrain us from national boasting while commemorating the event of our Independence. Ho very tri fling was the oppression which we experienced from Great Britain, compared with that which the slaves endure under the government of our choice! It is now 42 years since we declared ourselves a free and independent nation; and during the whole of this period we have inflicted a thousand fold more suffering on the Africans than we had endured from the hand of Great Britain prior to resisting unto blood and how Httle have we done to wipe away this foul reproach from our national character!

Were it not our own case, what should we think of a people who, without à tear or a blush, could see their newspapers filled from year to

year with such inconsistency as the following ?-Some columns crowded with accounts of splendid celebrations of freedom and independence-accompanied with reproaches against the people whose gov ernment had formerly oppressed them-with boasting representations of their past achievements in a war for lib erty-and a readiness to shed the last drop of their blood in defence of personal rights: While other columns contain accounts of many thousands of slaves in several of the statesof the laws which prohibit the slaves from meeting together for religious or mental instruction-of the penalties inflicted on those who have ventured to teach them in public meetings of slaves who have been shot, knocked on the head, or whipped to death by inhuman masters-also advertisements for run-away slaves, and for the sale of human bẹings at public auction-some whole families, the husband, wife and children together, or separately, as may best suit the purchaser ! And what

must God think of a people among whom he beholds such inconsistency, and to whom he has been peculiarly gracious.

Were our celebrations conducted on the principles of Christian benevolence, and accompanied with proper efforts to extend the blessings of freedom according to the principles avowed in the Declaration of Independence; and were the greater portion of the expense of celebrations appropriated as an Emancipa

ting Fund, to be employed in behalf of the oppressed-then might we with consistency raise our cries to the Father of all, and plead with him for the pardon of our past transgressions, and for a continu ance of his smiles on our republican institutions.

But

while we remain deaf to the cries of the enslaved blacks, with what face can we look to their Father and our Father, to their God and our God, for a continuance of those blessings to ourselves, which we unjustly deny to our African brethren ?

CONNECTICUT ASYLUM FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB,

Extract from the Second Report, THE Directors respectfully present the following Report :

The history of its past year furnishes a new occasion of gratitude to Almighty God, to all who feel interested in the welfare of the Asylum. During this period the pupils have enjoyed an unusual degree of health, and we again witness their return, delighted at the prospect which the coming year affords them of domestic enjoyment with each other, and of further improvement in intellectual and religious knowledge. Many thanks are due to the "author of every good and perfect gift," for the various blessings which He has scattered in the paths of these our unfortunate fellow beings;-especially for the preservation of the life and health of their worthy companion in misfortune, to whose faithful and successful labours, under God, they and their friends owe so much; for the remarkable deference and obedience which they have generally exhibited towards those who have had the care of them; for the faithful industry with which they have pursued their studies; and for the harmony and good-will which have marked their happy intercourse with each other, an intercourse, too, which has contributed, in no small degree, to their improvement in the acquisition of language, by affording them frequent opportunities of conversation with their instructers and each other. They have secured, also, the universal affection and esteem of their acquaintances in the

town in which they reside. And this deserved praise is bestowed upon them, not to excite their vanity, but for the better purpose of encouraging them in the way of well doing; of affording consolation to their friends; and, may we add, of leading all who feel interested in their happiness, to think how much gratitude is due to that Saviour, by whose continual intercession, so many comforts have descended from the source of alf good, to soothe and to cheer them.

Thus far the labours of the instructers have been principally directed to the improvement of the pu pils in written language. This is the only avenue to the various departments of knowledge which books contain, and which must, forever, be inaccessible to the deaf and dumb, until they become familiar with the powers and use of letters in their various forms and combinations. This, also, is necessary even for the purposes of their common intercourse with mankind, most of whom know nothing of the manner in which thoughts can so easily and distinctly. be expressed by signs and gestures.

How far the use of written language, as a medium for the communication of thought, has been successfully taught in the Asylum during the past year, may be perhaps estimated from a few specimens of the compositions of some of the most advanced pupils, entirely original with regard to thought, style, choice of words, and orthography, which are annexed to this report.

Of the general success, too, which has crowned the labours of the instructers, and the very faithful and