rig = DEVOTED TO ANTI-SLAVERY, TEMPERANCE, - SAMUEL R. WARD, Editor. ALEX, M ARTHUR, Cor. Editor. 3 es Belf-Mellance tg the Crue Moad to Undependence." TORONTO, CANADA WEST, SATURDAY. JUNE 24, 1854. ise PROSPECTUS OF CIAL FREEMAN... ' THE PROVI "REY. 8. &. WARD, EDITOR. -<)-) REV, ALEX. M'ARTHUR, COR. EDITOR. ~The Provincial Freeman will be devoted to Anti-Slavery, Temperance and General Litera- ture. The organ of no particular Political Party, it will open its columns to the views of men of different political opinions, reserving the right, as an independent Journal, of full expression on all uestions or projects affecting the people in a po- litical way; and reserving, also, the right to ex- press emphatic condemnation of all projects, hav- ing for their object ina great or remote degree, the subversion of the principles of the British €onstitution, or of British rule in the Provinces. Not committed to the views of any religious sect exclusively, it will carefully observe. the rights of every sect, at the same time that a reser- vation shall be made in favor of an existing dif- ference of opinion, as to the views or actions of the sects respectively. "As an advertising medium, as a vehicle of in- formation on Agriculture,--and as an enemy to vice in any and every conceivable form and a promoter of good morals, it shall be made worthy of the patronage of the public. ve _M. A. SHADD, Publishing Agent. Office, 5, City Buildings, King Strect Kast, Toronto. Che Wrobinetal sreeman Is published every Saturday, at_the Office of the paper, No. 5, City Buildings, King Street East, Toronto, C. W. Terms: 7s. 6d., ($1.50.) per annwn, payable in advance. RATES OF ADVERTISING, One square not over 10 lines, onein- £ s. d. Z sertion, 0 2:0 One square, one month, 0146713 "t- "- _ three months, 012 0 SE BE six months, £00 ase es. one year, 41 12 6 2 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS. The Canadian Contributors are: Rev. J.§.B. Smira, and Mr. J. J. Cary, of Tor- "onto; and A. B. Jones of London. Friends in ~Chatham, Windsor, Buxton and other places westward, will also correspond; whose names will be announced hereafter, if not objectiona- "ple to the parties. Aut Lerrers, whether intended for publication "or on Business, must be addressed, post-paid, to M, A.Suapp, Toronto, C. W. © printed for the Proprietors, at the Office, No. 5, City eos Buildings, King Street East. JOB PRINTING ! \HE PROPRIETORS of the PROVIN- he CIAL FREEMAN would inform their friends and the pubes that their Office is supplied with all the requisites for the execution of every description of JOB PRINTING, in the best and handsomest style, with - accuracy and despatch. They would, also, respec fully _ solicit a continuance of that patronage heretofore extended te Mr. STEPHENS, ifs former owner; fully expecting that the Office will continue te maintain the high character it" fas deservedly acquired under the very efficient manage- ment of that gentleman. : : i ~ Cards, Labels, Handbills, Show Bills, Circulars, Bill Heads, Check Books, Bank Books, and every other des- cription of Letter-press Frinting, at the Office of the P&O- VINCIAL FREEMAN, on reasonable terms. _. Business Directory. LTR. S. S. MACDONELL, Barrister, At L torney at Law, Notary Public, &c., &c., Windsor, C. W. TERI GN ESSRS. 2. P. & ADAM CROOKS, Bar- 1Vi risters at Law, Attorneys and Solicitors, Wellington Street, Toronto. CAYLEY & CAMERON, Barristers, &c., &c., Office Church Street, next door to the Court House. See aia Wauiram CaYiey, ae Marrusw Crooxs Camron. x Fashionable Hair Cutting ! pues Subscriber grateful to his old patrons, and the & public generally, for their past favors, would most respectfully invite-them to visit him at No. 68 King Street West, two doors East of Ellah's Hotel, were he will take gréat pleasure in' waiting on all. who may wish to be Operated upon, iv the line of either HAIR CUTTING, SHAVING, HAIR CURLING, or SHAMPOOING. Fil i THOS... CAREY. Toronto, March, 16, 1854, IGNES, ee gg DEALERAIN - GROCERIES AND CROCKERY WARE, "No. 814 DUNDAS STREET, ea TONDON, C_.W. D. FARRAR & CO. ([MPORTERS AND WHOLESALE DEALERS IN GROCERIES, WINES, LIQUORS, &e &c. 0 a DS FROUse Sign end Ornamental Painter, Grainer, Glazier and Paper Hanger, Carver, Gilder and Glass Stainer. Mixed Paints, Putty, Enamelled and Plain Window Glass and Looking Glass, for Sale at the lowest Cash prices. = No. 29, King Street West, * Toronto, 10th April, 1854. : 4 VANKOUGHNET & BROTHER BARRISTERS. Atntoreys, &¢. &c.--Oflice in Church > Street, over " The City Bank' Agency, two doors south of St. Andrew's Church. ee aeey) P ~ CHARLES FLETCHER, - BOOKSELLER anv STATIONER, Wrist .. No. 54, Yoner Srrerr, : TORONTO. British and American Works imported and for sale-at the smallest possible advance upon the wholesale prices. atg & "A NDREW HENDERSON, Auctioneer and A' Commission Merchant, No. 32, Yonge St., 'Toronto: ).> © : é ; References,--Thomas Clarkson, Esq., Presi- dent of the Board.of.Trade; John Robertson, Esq... Messrs. A. Ogilvie. & Co.;, Messrs. How- pat itch; Messrs. D. Crawford & Co.' PUNCTUALITY !! BROWN «& FLAMER, +. = Late of Philadelphia, PrASHONABLE BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS, No 33 £" King Street West. All work warranted to be done ina Superior Style. Repairing done with neatness and dis- atch. Feet measured on anatoutical principles. Proronto, Mareh 18th, 1854. 2 S22G. HARCOURT'S CLOTHING STORE, pF RING STREET LASSE FYVHE Subscribe shas j S.. perior assortment Vesting lete outfit kept constantly on hand. - a, Ho, AARC OUBT,, ma, 13--1m,. "LL, King Sweet East. aide ust received a very su- x of West of England Broad Cloths, Cassimeres, Doeskins, Tweeds, of the newest pattern and material. Every article belonging to a gentleman's com- jlortrn. LADD DIPPED PAO 8 ~ June, BY WILLIAM HENRY BURLEIGH. . June with its roses--June! The gladdest nonth of our capricious year, With its thick foliage, and its sunlight clear ; : And with the drowsy tune Of the bright leaping waters, ee Py es Laughingly on amid the springing grass?" Earth at her joyous coming Smiles as she puts her gayest mantle on; And Nature greets her with a benison ; While myriad voices, humming Their welcome song, breathe dreamy music round, Till seems the air.an element of sound. The over-arching sky Weareth a softer tint, a lovelier blue, As if the light of heaven were melting through Its saphire home on high; Hiding the sunshine in their vapoury breast, The clouds float on like spirits to their rest. A deeper melody, Poured by the birds, as o'er their callow young Watchful they hover, to the breeze is flung-- Gladsome, yet not of glee-- Music heart-born, like that which mothers sing Above their cradled infants slumbering. On. the warm hill-side, where . The sunlight lingers latest, through the grass Peepeth the luscious strawberry! As they pass, Young children gambol there, Crushing the gathered fruit in playful mood, And staining their bright faces with its blood. A deeper blush is given To the half-ripened cherry, as the sun Day after day pours warmth the trees upon, Till the rich pulp is riven; The truant school-boy looks with longing eyes, And perils limb and neck to win: the prize. The farmer, in his field, Draws the rich mould around the tender maize; While hope, bright pinioned points to coming days When all his toils shall yield An ample harvest, and around his hearth There shall be laughing eyes and tones of mirth. Poised on his rainbow wing, The butterfly, whose life is but an hour, Hovers coquettishly from flower to flower, A gay and happy thing ; Born for the sunshine and the summer day, Soon passing, like the beautiful, away. These are thy pictures, June! Brightest of Summer months: thou month of flow'rs First-born of beauty, whose switt-tooted hours Danee to the merry tune Of birds and waters, and the pleasant shout Of childhood on the sunny hills peal'd out. I feel it were not wrong To deem thou art a type of Heaven's clime, Only that there the clouds and storms of 'Time : Sweep not the clouds along; The flowers--air--beauty--music--all are thine, -But-brighter--purer-----lovelicr-- more divine} --_--}- WITeraiure. Thorns for the Rose. From Fern Leaves from I'anny's Portfolio. "Tt will be very ridiculous in you Rose, to reluse to etve up that child," said a dark looking man to the pretty. widow Grey.-- «Think what a relief it will be to have one of your children taken off your hands. It costs something to liye now-a-days,"--and Unele Ralph scowled portentously, and he pushed his purse farther down in his coat- pocket,--" and you know you have another mouth to feed. They'll educate her, clothe and feed her, and Z "Yes," said the impetuous, and warm- hearted mother, rising quickly from her chair and setting her little feet down in avery de- termined manner upon the floor, while a bright flush passed over her cheek, "yes, Ralph, and teach her to forget and disres- pect her mother! " " Pshaw, Rose, how absurd! She'll out- grow all that when she gets to be a woman, even if they succeed now. Would you stan'l in your own child's lioht? She will be an heiress, if you act like a sensible wo- man; and, if you persist in refusing, youmay live to see the day when she will reproach you for it." This last argument carried some weight: with it; and Mrs. Seldon sat down dejected- ly and folded her little hands in her lap.-- She had not thought. of that. She might be taken away, and little Kathaleen forced to toil for daily bread. Uncle Ralph saw the advantage he had gained, and determined to pursue it--for he had a great horrer of being obliged eventu- ally to provide for them himself. "Come, Rose, don't sit there looking so solemn; put it down, now in black and white, and. send off for the letter, before one of your soft womanish fits comes on again," and he pushed a sheet of paper toward her, with pen and ink. Just then the door burst open, and. little Kathaleen came bounding in from her play, bright with the loveliness of youth and | health, and springing into her mother's lap, and clasping her neck, frowned from be- neath her curls at Uncle Ralph, whom she suspected somehow or other to be connect- ed with the tear drop that was trembling on her mother's long eye-lashes. ; } "J can't do it, Ralph," said the young widow, clasping her child to her breast, and | raining tears and smiles enough upon her to make a mental rainbow. i | "You are a fool!" said the vexed man, "and you'll live to hear somebody. tell you so, I'm thinking; " and he slammed the door in a very suggestive manner, as he passed out. = Poor Mrs. Seldon! Stunned by the sud- den death of a husband who was all to her that her warm heart craved, she clung the | more closely to his children. No, woman ever knew better than Rose Seldon the un- dying love of a mother. he offer that had been made her for Kathaleen was from dis- tant relations of her husband--of whom she knew little, except that Mr. and Mrs. Clair were childless, and had found a great deal They had once made her a short visit, and | ~Now you may be sure this was all very -sweet, careless crace of those dimpled limbs, -mother's face and by a thousand mute re- somehow or other, all the time they were there--and it seemed a little eternity to her for that very reason--she never dared creep to her husband's side, or slide her little hand in his, or pass it caressingly over his broad white forehead, or run into the hall for a parting kiss, or do anything, in short, save to sit up straight, two leagues off, and be proper! excruciating to little Mrs, Rose, who was ver- dant enough to think that~husbands were intended to love, and who owned a little heart quite as large as a little woman could conveniently carry about. She saw nothing on earth so beautiful as those great dark eyes of his--especiaily when they were bent on her--nor heard any music to compare with that deep, rich voice; and though she had been married many happy years, her heart leaped at the sound of his footstep as it did the first day he called her ' wife.' Cared the " Great Reaper " for that ?-- Stayed he for the clasped hands of entreaty, or the scalding tear of agony? NRecked he that not one silver thread mingled in the dark loeks of the strong man? No! by the desolation of that widowed heart, no! he laid his icy fingers on those lips of love, and chilled that warm brave heart, and then turn- ed coldly away to seek another victim. And Rose pressed his children to her heart with a deeper love--a love born of sorrow--and said we will not part. She knew that fingers that never toiled before, must toil unceasingly now. She knew when her heart was sad, there was no broad breast to lean upon.-- She had already seen days that seemed to have no end, dragging their slow, weary length along. She dare not go toa drawer, trunk or escritoire, lest some memento of him should meet her eye. She struggled bravely through the day to keep baek the tears, tor her children's sake ; but night came, when those little restless limbs needed a res- pite--even from play--when the little prat- tling voices were hushed, and the bright eye priscned beneath its snowy lid; then, indeed, the long pent-up grief held in check through the day by a mother's unselfish love, burst forth; till exhausted with tearful vigils, she would creep at the grey dawn, between the rosy little sleepers, and nestling close to their blooming faces, dream--God kvows how mockingly--of happy hours that would never come again. And O! the slow torture of each morning waking ; the indistinct recollection of 'some- thing "dreadful; the hand~ drawn slowly across the aching brow: the struggle to re- member! 'Then--the opening eye, the un- familiar objects, the strange, new, small room: nothing home-like but those sleeping orphans. God help the widow! And now, as if her cup of bitterness were not full, little Kathaleen must leave her. Must it be? She paced the room that night after Uncle Ralph had lett her, and thought of his words, "She may live to tell you so." Then she went to the bedside, and parted the clustering hair from Kathaleen's fore- head, and marked with a mother's pride the and noted each shining curl. There were the father's long lashes, his brow, his straight classic profile. O, what would he tell her? And then, old memories came back with a rushing tide that swept all before ie oor Rose ! Kathaleen stirs uneasily, and calls "Mam- ma," and smilesin her sleep. O, how could she part with that little loving heart ?-- Countless were the caresses she received from her every hour. Watchful and sensi- tive, she noted every shade of sorrow on her monstrances, testified her unspoken sympa- thy. That little impulsive heart would be cased in an armour of frigidity at Clairville. She might be sad, or sick, or dying, and Rose shuddered and sat still nearer to her child. What companionship would she have? What moral influence exerted ?-- Might she not even be weaned from the heart she had laid beneath ? Ah! Uncle Ralph, you little knew, as you sat in your office the next morning, and fold- ed a little slip of paper back in its envelope, upon which was written these simple words, 'Kathaleen shall go,'--you little knew at what cost! You marked not the blistered paper and the unsteady penmarks as you smiled satisfactorily, and said, 'very concise and sensible, for a woman." Uncle Ralph did think of it again once, as he walked home to his dinner; but it was only to congratulate himself that if Rose should be unable to support herself--which he doubted--there would be one less for him to look after! As to a woman's tears --pshaw! they were always crying for some- thing'; if it wasn't for that, it would be some- thing else. We will pass over the distressful parting between mother and child. The little trunk was only packed; the little Bible down in one corner. A book-mark, with a lamb embroid- ered upon it, was slipped in at these words --* Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not." Mother's God would eare for Kathaleen; there was sweet com- fort in that. And so Rose choked back her tears, and unclasped again and again the little clinging arms from her neck, and bade her sunny- haired child " good-bye!" and laughed hys- terically, as the little hand waved another, and a last. adieu. Even Uncle Ralph felt an uncomfortable sensation about his fifth button, and gave his dickey a nervous twitch and looked 'very steadily at the tops of the opposite houses! % % * Ba * BS Two months had passed! Little Katha- leen sat very quiet in that heated close school-room. 'lhere was a dark shadow un- der her eyes, either from illness or sorrow, and her face was very pale. Rose had writ- ten to her, but the letters were in the grave of Mrs. Clair's pockets, never to be resur- rectionized; so Kathaleen was none the wiser or happier. Uncle Ralph made it a principle never to think of any thing that im- paired his digestion; so he dismissed all un- easy thoughts of, or care for his niece, and tnade-no inquilies; Sevause he was firmly of the opinion, that " Where ignorance Is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." "You are uncommonly obtuse about your lesson this morning," said Kathaleen's tutor; " you've told me twice that France was bounded south by the Gulf of Mexico. What are you thinking about?" said he, as he grasped her arm. "Sir? " said little Kathleen, abstracted- ly. "T say, what ails you, to be so stupid: this morning," said the vexed pedagogue. "My head aches badly," said Kathaleen; " and--and--'" «" And what?" said Mr. Smith. '"¢ And--I--want--to--see--my--moth- er!" said the child, with a burst of tears. " Fiddlestick!" said the amiable Mr Smith, "if she cared much about you, I reekon she would have written to you before now. Mrs. Clair thinks she's married again, or some- thing of that sort; so don't worry your head for nonsense. How's France bounded, hey ? The division lines on the atlas were quite concealed by Kathaleen's tears; so she was ordered into the presence of her grim rela- tive who coaxed and threatened in vain, and finally sent her to bed. For two long, weary months the free, glad spirit of the child had been fettered and eramped at Clairville. Noone spoke to her of home or her mother; or, if they chanced to mention the latter, it was always in a slur- ring, sneering manner, more painful to the loving, sensitive child than their silence-- But why did mamma not write? that was the only wearing thought by day and night. And so Kathaleen drooped, and lost colour and spirits, and walked like an automaton, up and down the stiff garden walks, and "sat up straight," and " turned out her toes," as she was bid; and had a quick, frightened, nervous manner as if she were constantly in fear of reproof or punishment. : " Bridget," said Mrs. Clair, "how is Kathaleen? has she got over her hysterics ? I must break her of that." "Dear heart, no ma'am! She's just fret- ting the soul out of her, for a sight of her mother; its nater, I s'pose," said Bridget polishing her face with her checked apron. "Stuff, Bridget! The child's just like her mother; and that's saying enough.-- However, give her a little valerian, and sleep at the side of her bed to-night. I'll look in in the morning, said the angular lady, as she smoothed out her dress and her wrinkles. And so Bridget, obedient to orders, stretched her stout Irish limbs, 'at the side of the bed, though she might as well been in Ireland as there, for any response she made to that plaintive petition, through the long night, "Oh, do call my mamma! please call my mamma! " . And so night passed! and the golden morning light streamed in upon the waxen face of little Kathaleen. No breath came from those parted lips; no ringlet stirred with life; the hands lay meekly beside her, and the last tear she should ever shed lay glittering like a gem upon her cheek. "Ralph," said Mrs. Selden, "T shall start for Clairville to-morrow; I can stay away from Kathaleen no longer." "You'll be mad if you do," said Uncle Ralph, the child's well enough, or you would hear; you can't expect them to be writing all the time. Your welcome will be a sor- ry one, I can tell you; so take my advice, and let well alone." Mrs. Selden made no reply, but began to pack her trunk, and Uncle Ralph left the house. In about an hour's time he returned, and found Rose trying, in vain to clasp the lid of her trunk. "Do come here, Ralph," said she without looking up, "and settle this refractory lock. Dear little Kathaleen! I've crammed so many traps in here for her._E : will be to see me!" and she turned and look- ed up to see why Ralph did not answer. Biow, cheek and lip were in an instant blanched to paleness. A mother's quick eye had sparéd his tongue the sad tidings. % x If you visit the Lunatic Asylum at ; you will see a very beautiful woman, her glossy ringlets slightly threaded with silver. Day after day she paces up and down that long corridor, and says in heart-rending tones to every one she meets, "O, do call mamma I won't you please call my mamma?" a SCENE IN A CAR. The seats of the car were all occupied-- crowded. None of our avenue cars ever yet were full, so, of course, the house on wheels stopped for me.__ Not wishing to disturb those who were seated, I was intending to stand, but a gen- tleman up at the far end arose and insisted upon my taking his seat. Being very tired, T thanked him and obeyed. Presently, a lady, much younger, much prettier, and much better than myself enter- ed the car. No less than four gentlemen arose instantly, offerimg her a seat. of fault with her husband's choice of a wife. she+on She smiled sweetly and unaflectedly, and thank- Jing the gentleman who urged the nearest seat to her, she seated herself with a peculiar grace of manner. She had one of those faces Raphael was always painting,--touchingly sweet and ex- pressive. A little after this young beauty had taken her seat, a poor woman, looking very thin and very pale, with that care-worn, haggard look, that poverty, and sorrow, and hard la- bor always gives, camein. She might have been one of those poor seamstresses who work like slaves and--starve for their labor. She was thinly and meanly clad, and seemed weak and exhausted. She had evidently no sixpences to throw away, and came in the car, not to stand, but to rest, while she was helped on in her journey. While she was meekly standing for the moment, none of the gentlemen (?) offering to rise, Raphael's angel, with sweet, reprov- ing eyes, looked on those who had so offi- ciously offered her a seat, and seeing none of them attempt to move, and just as myself was rising to give the poor old lady a seat, she arose and insisted upon the woman taking her seat. It was all the work of but a moment; and the look of grateful surprise the old woman gave her, and the glance of sweet pity the beautiful girl bestowed on the woman as she yielded her seat, and the evident consterna- tion of the broadcloth individuals, who were manifestly put to shame, all were to me irre- sistably interesting and instructive. One of these same broadcloth wearers, ap- parently overpowered with confusion, got up and left the car, and Raphael's angel took his vacant seat.--V. Y. Day Book. A FAST OF THE LORD'S CHOICE. A Sermon: Preached in the Evangelical Union Church, of Pictou, N. S., on the Occasion of a Public Fast, for the Success of the British Arms, in the Impending. War Against Russia. - ; BY REV. ALEX. MCARTHUR. '"Rehold, ye fast for strife and. debate, and smite with the fist of wickedness, &c.--IsA1aq, lviii: 4 His Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor, oas appointed this day, to be set apart for humiliation and prayer; that, "In the im- pending war between Great Britain and Russia, her Majesty's fleets and forces may be preserved trom danger, and crowned with success." In compliance with this requisi- tion, we are assembled, to take such part in this public fast, as our consciences will per- mit. J have selected Isaiah, 58th chap., as a foundation for remarks, on the present occasion ; but more particularly, the follow- ing passage :-- Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smité with the fist of wick- edness: ye shal] not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. _ Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sack- clothand ashes wader him ? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him ; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh ?'--Isatau: 46 O70 1. . It is not my purpose to enter into an ex- position of the chapter before us ; but simply, to make it the basis for a few observations, respecting the design, propriety, use, form, and speret of anational fast. Preliminary to such observations, 1 beg to call your atten- tion to certain principles observed in God's dealing with nations. 1st. Each nation is recognized as hay- ing a distinct individual character--as, being a unit, and acting as a body corporate, in its individual capacity, through the heads of its various departments. A nation in the eyes of the Lord, is as one body. Qdly. Nations are held amenable for their national acts ; that is for acts perform- ed under official authority, by heads or agents of government. 3dly. There is not one law for the indi- vidual, and another for the nation. The principles of moral law are as much binding upon nations, in their unit capacity, as upon individual member of the body politie; that is, nations, like individuals, are bound to love their neighbor nations as themselves. 'When men unite in a corporate body of any kind, they do not thereby place themselves beyond the reach of moral obligation, in their associate capacity. The fact is, that the law of love has additional claims upon them, as by how much the more their power to do good or evil is thereby increased. Na- tions are bound to legislate, adjudicate, and execute, their laws, in harmony with the law of love. : A4thly.. Nations are visited with retribu- tion for the violation of the law of love, am this life. 'They do not exist as nations ina future state, but as individuals. Zhere, as individuals they will be judged; here, as na- tions. upon this mundane sphere. this principle. external conduct. no interior character. porations have no souls." private quality, or character. Therefore, if nations--as they do-- receive providential retribution, it must be The history of the past: affords abundant satisfactory and painful testimony, touching the working of 5ihly. Under the Divine government, nations receive treatment according to their Nations, as such, have It is this fact, doubt- less, Which has given rise to the adage, " Cor- They have no W hat indiyi- duals of the nation do, are not regarded as national acis, except they be acting under the authority of the government. The acts are not the acts of the individual, but the nation. For the acts of individuals, having no official standing, the nation is not responsible: indi- viduals will be judged as individuals, nations, as nations. 6thly. In the infliction of retribution upon nations, it so happens that the righteous suffer with the wicked. 'They are so mixed up in social and civil compact, that it is im- possible, in the nature of the case, to distin- guish between them, in the affliction of pun- ishment. Tor instance, if a nation should fail to use sanitory regulations, necessary to prevent the spread of pestilence; when it reaches our shores, it makes indiscriminate slaughter among the peo le. The pure and virtuous fall under its fell power, as well as the most reckless violator of organic and moral law. If a nation continue the practice of slavery, all parties are made to feel the de- moralizing influence of such a perverted so- cial condition--those protesting, as well as those giving it their individual or govern- mental support. When a government lends its influence and patronage to such a demo- ralizing traffic as the sale of intoxicating drinks, for beverage purposes, the entire people become victims, more or less, to the evils arising from such traffic--those giving vote and voice against it, as well as those directly connected withit, either by sale or use. Public wrongs are private injuries. 'We come now to consider. Il.---THE DESIGN, PROPRIETY, USE, FORM, AND SPIRIT OF A NATIONAL FAST. 1st.-- Negatively. It is not the design of a national fast, to substitute religious obser- vances for repentance, or to make amends for domg. wrong. We must not suppose, because we quit working with our hands, give up eating our daily bread, assemble ourselyes as we now do, to sing psalms, offer prayers, etc., that God will accept this out- ward service, instead of undoing the wrong we have done; or justify the wrong we in- tend to do. Our worship must be sincere, and our repentance evinced by actual refor- mation, or we turn the whole fast into a grand exhibition of national hypocrisy. 'This would be covering our sin under the garb of sanctity, or asking leave to practice it under the sanction of religion. Is this such a fast as the Lord commands ? Let us.not add to our numerous national sins, the guilt of national hypocrisy. It is very evident from the severe rebuke of the Lord's prophet, that the Jews had the idea in their minds that, if they observed cer- 'tain outward rites-that the Tord would over- look their sins, and grant them indulgence in their continued violations of the law of love ; hence he tells them in the 5th, 6th, and 7th verses of this chapter, the kind of fast God hath chosen. A fast accompanied and fol- lowed by deeds of benevolence--works meet for repentance. We exclaim against popish indulgences, and we do well; but let us beware lest we commit the same folly in another form. The papist gives his money for indulgences ; will we seek to buy them more cheaply, by the simple observance of outward forms! The Jews in the days of Isaiah, thought they could do this. 'They imposed upon them- selves by an attempt to impose upon the Al- mighty. IJence, the complaint in the 3d verse. ' Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our souls, and thou takest no knowledge?' 'The prophet gives them plainly to understand, it was because they had substituted penance for actual repent- anee and deeds of humanity. What are outward forms to the Lord, unless they spring from love? Empty as sounding brass. 2nd. 'The design of a national fast is, to afford occasion for the public recognition of our national responsibility. It is very useful in this respect. ; 3rd. A national fast furnishes a public opportunity for a public confession of national guilt. 4th. It gives an opportunity for publicly renouncing our national sins. National sins have been publicly committed, and they ought to be as publicly confessed and renounced. They were not done ina corner, but commit- ted before God, and the universe; as openly should they be acknowledged, and abandon- ed. If we had committed them privately, and if they resulted in private injury only, they might be privately confessed and given up; but as they are known of all men, and expose us to a common retribution, before men ought they to be confessed and for- saken. He 5th. A. national fast is a public recogni- tion of the existence and government of God, by a nation, in their national capacity ; and therefore, a governmental fast is proper and useful. Ifa nation commit sins as a nation, it is certainly very proper that, as a nation, they should in this way acknowledge the ex- istence of a God against whom they have sinned, and his righteous government, of which theirs should be a type. 6th. A national fast tends to rouse the consciences of the people to a sense of their national depravity. 7th. Jt affords an excellent opportunity for the minister of the Gospel to expose and rebuke national sins. Such then is the de- sign, propriety, and use of national fasts. II.--IN WHAT FORM AND SPIRIT OUGHT A NATIONAL FAST TO BE OBSERVED. Our text is very explicit on this point. Read it. It is too long to requote. Some there are, who object to forms ; but, it must appear obvious, if we would give expression to spirit, it must be by a form. It was not the sin of the Jews that they hada form of fasting, but that they had the form without the spirit. When the spirit was absent, the very form, however solemnly observed, be- came an abomination to the Lord. "To ever may be said of other nations enjoying contrite spirit." But he who is not th cere and contrite, in the observance o ligious services, is thus regarded. -- that killeth an ox, is as if he slew a ma that sacrificeth a lamb, as he that cu dog's neck; he that offereth an oble if he offered swine's blood; he that o h incense, as if he blessed an idol."--Isai Ixvi. 2,3. The offering of sacrifices, obl: tions, and incense, was not only lawful, but positively commanded ; but even these en- joined ceremonies and sacrifices, if not ob- served in the spirit of true repentance, be- came as offensive as murder, abominations, and idolatory, in the sight of God; so also, of fasts observed without the spirit of human- ity. Ifwe have the proper spirit of fasting, that is no reason why we should not have the form, but rather a reason why we should. Again, the observance of the form will -- serve to deepen the spirit of penitence, hu- miliation, and benevolence. Abstinence - from food serves to quicken our interior per- ceptions, and leads us to the discovery of sin, while waiting devoutly before God in the --- ordinances of religion; and may originate -- such excess of sorrow for sin so as to render fasting necessary. This is doubtless the plulosophy of fasting. Children in prospec of a journey can eat no food. Mental ex citement of any kind takes away the ap tite. 'This is to be accounted for on philo- sophical principles ; the rush of blood to brain deprives the digestive organs of t wonted activity. -- : < Alas! if we hada proper view of our tional sins we would be so bound down wit grief and sorrow as to go without food fo many days. : ee Again it is proper, as before said, that #1 head and agents of the Government should. in their official capacity, meet at some parti cular point, with the people as far as prac Jerusalem, and there in simplicity and godl sincerity humble themselves and put away their sins by looking unto the Lord. 3B not at some particular place, we should as we do this day, in. our several place: worship for this purpose. ae But it may be objected on the ground some of the principles laid down at the co mencement of our discourse: why sho people assemble for this purpose if the heads of government are to be held responsibl national offences. I reply, under a popula Government such as ours, where-univers: suffrage is enjoyed, the people share in responsibility. Our responsibility the extent of our political privileges. less civil liberty, it is true of us that share the responsibility of national acts i common with our rulers; for, it is by ot suffrage our legislators hold their oflices and does not God hold us responsible for kind of men we send to represent us in Par- -- liament and make our laws? Yes, it is pro-_ per that the people--the whole people-- should meet to confess the sins of our ruler and our own sins, so far as we may have le our countenance and influence to govern mental wrongs. 'The lawgivers are our s vants, expressing our will in statute enact- ments, which if wrong, it must be by © permission ; for such permission are we hel responsible. <-- eee We are therefore met this day to con our national sins. 'Chat we may do so in- telligently, it is of the first importance t these sins be specified. This is a painful part of our duty, but it must not be omitt * IV.---NOTICE SOME OF THE PARTICULA SINS OF WHICH WE ARE GUILTY, AS A NADION. = ee 1st. Ln our treatment of the native tribes -- of conquered territory What bas been our _ treatment of the original proprietors of the -- land in which we live? We have robbed -- them of their wide domain; wasted then hunting grounds; destroyed their means ee living, and quenched their council fires. A what return have we made then? Have we -- left them a remnant of land as a suitable re servation upon which to pitch their camp? What have we done towards their education and moral culture? Has their relation our civilization tended to elevate them? Alas, poor Indian! his spirit is broken. That native dignity which he is said to ha possessed when he roamed in the largest berty, in undisputed possession of his un- broken forests, where is it? We have com- municated to himour diseases ; given hi our vices without our virtues; devoured him ~ with our fire-waters ; and--* unkindest of all'----by a recent Act of Parliameni doomed him to a political death. We ha excluded him from the enjoyment of tho: privileges which we cordially extend to ple of other countries, who may dom themselves in our midst. Hven thi negro--a fugitive from southern slave all his ignorance, and degradation--is | welcome to the enjoyment of all t and immunities of a British subject, on Com=_ plying with those conditions 'enjoined upon -- all other aliens and, foreigners. But--oh? shame, where is thy blush! Indi the true native of the soil--because he Indian, however intelligent, wealthy he may become,--and only the Lndic nied the right of suffrage, It ought to be our proud boast that t is at least one spot on the North Amer continent, where, under-the name British lion, the fugitive slave can ft only protection. from the beak and talc of the American eagle, but. also.a shat the right of universal sullrage. But tell not in Gath! the red ian is a blank. Nova Scotia, and what adds to the pre our insensibility respecting the re rights is the fact (iat nota tongue has moved, nor a pen been lifted, to stigma » the out- rage that has been perpetrated upon 2 We have no room for boasting, but cau