---- STORY OF A NATIVE AFRICAN. We make the following extract from the narrative of Gustavus Vassa, who was stolen from' his native land when a boy and made aslave: but who after- wards became enlightened and wrote a history of his life, which was first pub- lished in England ; That part of Africa, known by the name of Guinea, to which the trade for slaves is carried on, extends along the coast above 3,400 miles, from Senegal to An- gola; and includes a variety of kingdoms. Of these the most considerable is Benin, both as to extent and wealth, the rich- ness and cultivation of the soil, the pow- er of its king, and the number and war- like disposition of its inhabitants. It is situated nearly under the line, and ex- tends along the coast about 170 miles, but runs back into the interior part of Africa to a distance hitherto I believe un- explored by any traveler; and seems on- ly terminated at length by the empire of Abyssinia, near 1500 miles from its be- ginning. This kingdom is divided into _ many provinces or districts; in one of the most remote and fertile of which I was born, in the year 1745, situated ina charming fruitful vale, named Essaka.-- The distance of this province from the capital of Benin and the sea coast must be very considerable, for I had never heard of white men or Europeans, nor of the sea; and our subjection to the king of Benin was little more than nominal, for every transaction of the government, as far as my slender observation extend- ed, was conducted by the chiefs or elders of the place. The manners and govern- ment of a people who have little com- merce with other countries are generaliy very simple,and the histories of what pass- es in one family or village, may serve as aspecimen of the whole nation. My fa- ther was one of those elders or chiefs I have spoken of, and was styled Em- brenche, a term, as I remember, import- ing the highest di tinction, and signifying in our language a mark of grandeur,-- This mark is conferred on the person en- titled to it, by cutting the skin across at the top of the forehead, and drawing it down to the eyebrows; and while it is in this situation applying a warm hand, and rubbing it until it shrinks up into a thick weal across the lower part of the forehead. Most of the judges and senators werethus marked, my father had long borne it, I had seen it conferred on one of my bro- thers, and I also was destined to receive it by my parents. Those Embrenche or chief men, decided disputes and punish- ed crimes; for which purpose they al- ways assembled together. 'The proceed- ings wre generally short, and in most cases the law of retaliation prevailed.-- Tremembea a man was brought before my father and the other judges, for kid- napping a boy ; and, although he was the son of a chief or senator, he was con- demned to make recompense by a man or woman slave. Adultery, however, was sometimes punished with slavery or death, a punishment which, I believe, is inflict- ed on it throughout most of the nations of Africa; * so sacred among them is the honor of the marriage bed, and so jeal- ous are they of the fidelity of their wives. Of this I recollect an instance, a woman was convicted before the judges of adul- tery, and delivered over, as the custom was, to her husband to be punished. Ac- cordingly he determined to put her to death, but it being found, just before her execution, that she had an infant at her breast, and no woman being prevailed on to perform the part of a nurse, she was spared on account of the child. The men, however, do not preserve the same constancy to their wives, which they ex- pect from them; for they indulge in a plurality, though seldom in more than two. 'Their mode of marriage is thus: both parties are usually betrothed when young by their parents, (though [ have known the males to betroth themselves.) On this occasion a feast is prepared, and _ the bride and bridegroom stand up in the midst of all their friends, who are assem- bled for the purpose, while he declares that she is thenceforth to be looked upon as his wife, and that no other person is to pay any addresses to her. This is al- so immediately proclaimed in the vicinity, on which the bride retires from the as- sembly. Sometime after she is brought home to her husband, and then anothe feast is made, to which the relations of both parties are invited. Her pare then deliver her to the bridegroom, ac- companied with a number of blessings, and at the same time they tie round her Waist a cotton string of the thickness of a goose-quill, which none but married wo- men are permitted to wear. She is now considered as completely his wife, and at this time the dowry is given to the new married pair, which generally consists of portions of land, slaves and cattle, house hold goods and implements of hnsbandry. These are offered by the friends of both parties, besides which the parents of the bridegroom present gifts to those of the * See Benezet's "Account of Guinea," through- wt bride, whose property she is looked upon before marriage, but after it she is es- teemed the sole property of her husband. The ceremony being now ended the fes- tival begins, which is celebrated with bonfires, and loud acclamations of joy, accompanied with music and dancing. We are almost a nation of dancers,mu- sicians and poets. Thus every great event, such as a triumphant return from battle, or other cause of public rejoicing is celebrated in public dances which are accompanied with songs and music suited to the occasion. 'The assembly is divid- ed into four divisions, which dance eith- er apart or in succession, and each with a character peculiar to itself. The first division contains the married men, who in their dances frequently exhibit feats of arms, and the representation of a battle. To these succed the married women,who dance in the second division. The young men occupy the third and the maidens the fourth. Each represents some inter- esting scene of real life, such as a great achievement, domestic employment, a pa- thetic story, ur some rural sport. And as the subject is generally fcunded on some recent event, it is therefore ever new.-- This gives our dances a spirit and a var- iety which I have scarcely seen else- where.* We have many musical instru- ments, particularly drums of different kinds, a piece of music which resembles a guitar, and another much like a stick- ado. These last are chiefly used by be- trothed virgins, who play on them on all grand festivals. As our manners are simple our luxu- ries are few. The dress of both sexes is nearly the same. It generally consists of a long piece of calico, or muslin, wrap- ped loosely round the body, somewhat in the form of a Highland plaid. 'This is usually dyed blue, which is our favorite color. It is extracted from a berry, and is brighter and richer than any I have seen in Europe. Besides this, our wo- men of distinction wear golden orna- ments, which they dispose with profusion on their arms and legs. . When our wo- men are not employed with our men in tillage, their usual occupation is spinning and weaving cotton, which they after- wards dye, and make into garments.-- They also manufacture earthen vessels, of which we have many kinds. Among the rest tobacco pipes, made after the same fashion, and used in the same man- ner, as those in Turkey.t * When I was in Smyrna I have frequently seen the Greeks dance in this manner. + The bowl is earthen, curiously figured, to which a long reed is fixed as a tube. This tube is sometimes so long as to be borne by one, and fre- quently out of grandeur, two boys NEWS FROM PARLIAMENT. We make the following extracts from the National Era. : In my last letter 1 mentioned that Mr. Cameron was the best speaker in the House of Assembly; and that this may not appear insidious, | would beg leave to re- mark that by this I mean he paid more attention to oratory, by which he is ena- bled to invest his subjects with a peculi- ar interest. He rather aims at quiet dis- play, however, than fire and brilliancy.-- Among the other principal speakers in the House are the Inspector General, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. Cay- ley, Mr. H. Sherwood, Mr. Merritt--an American--and several others. The House has been officially notified that the seat of Government will be re- moved to Quebec early during the next Autumn, which measure, it strikes me, has been accelerated by the necessity that exists for farther legislation as to the Rebellion Losses Bill, which created so much commotion at Montreal three years since--the burning of the Parliament House there, and the aggravated insult offered to the Governor General, who signed the bill--and a feeling of animos- ity that is undeserved on the part of that personage, but which still remains as deep and rancorous as ever. The object of that bill, as is stated in a dispatch of June, 1849, was to " erad- icate alltendency to disloyalty and dis- affection, by removing every remaining just cause of complaint, in reference to the unfortunate events of 1837 and 1838, and the re-establishing the instiutions of the country in the hearts and affections of the people agaend the Commissioners who are appointed to investigate the laims that might be subsequently ad- anced, were informed by the Govern- ment that they were expected to perform their task in the same spirit in which the bill was passed. Evidence has since been heard in re- lation to claims to the extent of $383,160. Those which have not been investigated amount to $425,156, making in the whole $808,316. The reception of claims was limited by the act to the first of May, 1850, and the Commissioners are still engaged apportioning the indem- nity according to the true interest and meaning of the statute. There have been already several rich scenes in the House, called up by Mr. McKenzie, asif by magic. He was the principal actor in the drama which ter- and his success at that time was owing to the existence of what was called the Family Compact. But times are now changed--they no longer exercise any influence, and the chief obstacle to the successful operation of the responsible system has arisen from a factious oppo- sition by which the people of the Pro- vince have been kept in a state of con- stant excitement and discontent. During the period which has elapsed, and in which this change has taken place, this man's mind, as respects colonial af- fairs, has been in statu quo; and he comes back to the Legislature, at the ex- piration of fourteen or fifteen years, near- ly as great a stranger to what had occur- red as was Rip Van Winkle to the im- provements which had taken place du- ring his protracted sleep. The result is, that the motions he has made in the House have proved an utter failure; and his supporters are miserale dupes, if they suppose his presence in the Assembly will be productive of bene- ficial results to the province. The more important measures, which will command the attention of the Legis- lature, have not yet come up for discus- sion, and Mr. Papineau has not yet arriv- ed, who is one of the most prominent and efficient opponents of the Government. Like Mr. McKenzie iu the upper Pro- vince he was the cause of the rebellion in Lower Canada, where at that time he was paramount, and had far greater cause than the other for his discontent. He is aman of very different calibre also, with a mind enlarged and cultivated by study, and replete with general information ; and judging from his speeches, delivered in a foreign language, he must be a effi- cient orator in his native dialect, but in which he never addresses the Assembly. I find that there is a probability that a company will be formed for opening a canal from Sault Ste. Marie, which con- nects Lake Superior with Lake Huron, when steamers ef light draught will be able to pass through and descend to De- troit, and even Buffalo, or proceed to the eastern end of Georgian Bay, which is connected with Lake Simcoe by a very good road, on which is a line of stage- coaches; and in 12 hours travelers may be in Toronto ; when by taking the boat to Rochester, and passing over the Erie railroad in 36 hours, at farthest,they may be in New York. SKIN DEEP TEMPERANCE, Can any christian man unite and har- monize with the National Division of the Sons of Temperance in U. 8.2 Can any anti-slavery man unite with them in their base hypocrisy ? Abolitionists pretend to have come out from political organizations and prosla- very churches on account of their cor- ruption and prejudice against the people of color. In this they are bearing their testimony against that wicked practice that would break up the Union of Saints or even turn heaven into: hell if it was admitted there. But are they honest in their professions, and if so where is their consistency in u- niting with the Sons of Temperance who refuse to extend their pledge to a man that has African blood in his veins-- if it would save him from a drunkard's grave or a drunkard's hell? They came out from the Whig and de- mocratic parties because they support slavery--they came out of the most po- pular religious organizations because they are prejudiced against their colored bre- thren, and connive at human bondage. Yet they can unite with the Sons of Temperance many of whom are slave hol- ders--an organization that proclaims to the world that no Negro shall be admit- ted into the society. For the proof, we refer the reader to a temperance article which may be seen on another page. Such a society is rotten to the core and is therefore unworthy of the support of the true friends of humanity. To Kerr Eacs,--I have seen a varie- ty of different, methods recommended for keeping eggs so they may be fresh and good through the winter ; but on trial we seldom have them come out " as good as new." About two years agoI thought I wo'd pack some in charcoal. I pounded the charcoal and packed them in the same manner as recommended in oats, ashes, salt, &. The result was they kept per- fectly good to all appearance as new layed eggs. We have tried the charcoal two years with the same result--Maine Far- mer. There is an abundance of fruit in Ca- nada West this season. The meadows and wheat fields promise a rich. harvest to the farmers: and from all visible ap- pearances the potatoe crop was never bet- ter. We understand that a French Colony of 3,000 families are settling in Taze- well county, Va. We suppose that they are hungering and thirsting after slavery. minated inthe Canadian rebellion of 1888 VOICE 0 "SANDWICH, CANADA WEST. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VOICE. We feel truly grateful to J.T. Fisher of Toronto, C. W., Wm. Stili of Philadelphia, Pa., Theodore Holly of Burlington, Vt., Rev. A. G. Beman of NewIIaven Ct., Wm. G. Al- len, of McGrawville, N. Y., and other friends of our cause, for their valuable and highly in- teresting contributions to the columns of our little sheet, and hope that they will not be "weary in well doing." TRAVELING AGENTS FOR THE FU- GITIVES HOME SOCIETY IN MICH. Charles C. Foote, of Commerce, and E. P. Benham of Farmington, were appointed by the above Society to travel and solicit aid for the accomplishment of the avowed object for which the Society was organized. They are also respectfully requested to act as agents in procuring subscribers for the Voice of the Fugitive. We can recommend them to the public as true friends of the fugitive slave, of the Ger- ritt Smith stamp, and hope that they may meet with that encouragement which the merits of our cause so justly demands. It is with some degree of delicacy that we dip our pen into the ink to record a sentence respecting our own agency in the prosecution of the great work which now awaits the anti- slavery public, in the elevation of our down- trodden race. But as much has been said by our friends, both in Canada and the States, urging that we should go to Europe, to rep- resent the fugitive slaves in Canada, and to make an appeal in their behalf for a donation of Government land for them to settle upon we feel called upon to say a word respecting it. While we fee] highly honored by the con- fidence reposed in us by our numerous friends --judging from their expression, convention- ally and otherwise--in selecting us as a suit- able person to represent the refugees of Can- ada before the Christian philanthropists of the old world, we are led to pause : Ist, Because they have made no pecuniary arrangements to defray our expences, that we know of, on such a voyage, 2d, Our poverty would preclude any such step being taken on our part unless such a provision should first be made, however will- ing we might be to comply with their wishes. In order to warrant success in such a mis- sion in Europe, the matter should be well ma- tured in America. And without an obser- vance of these items I should respectfully de- cline acting in such an important capacity. IS THE M.E. CHURCH OF THE NORTH PRO-SLAVERY ? We published an article on this subject, to which one of our New England friends in the vicinity of Fall River takes exceptions.-- He denies the correctness of the following paragraph, particularly wherein it is stated that tha church north have ordained a s!ave- holder since the south separated from them. " Both the Northern and Southern divisions have the same discipline; both cherish slave- holders in their bosom; both have slave-hold- ing preachers; the church north has ordained a slaveholder since the south separated, know- ing him to be such, and both practically dis- regarded the sentiment of Westey, their il- lustrious founder, that Slavery isthe sum of all vilainies. Itis not denied that there is a good deal of anti-slavery feeling in the church north, and also inthe Protestant Methodist body, and that it is increasing, but the un- ion of Southern slaveholders with Northern men leads to compromises and admissions greatly to be lamented." We believe every word of it to be true, and even more, which the facts in their offi- cial documents will prove. They have now eight annual conferences, a part or the whole of whose territory is in the slaveholding states, and in which they have scores of slaye- holding clergymen, and 1n which it is compu- ted that they have not less than four thousand slaveholders, and twenty-seven thousand slaves, from whom the sacred scriptures are systematically withheld, and who are bought and sold in the market by these professors of religion, as cattle, sheep or swine, Wespeak from experience upon the sub- ject for we have been bought and sold by the M, E. Church while a member of that body. But the article in question was taken from the Am. and For. Anti-slayery report of last May, and we shall call on that society to sub- stantiate the fact, which is easily done by re- ferring to the action of thatchurch in Phila- delphia, in 1849. Weare not at all surprised atthe igno- rance of many of the members of the M. E. Sa Church on that subject, while we know that many of their leaders strive to keep them so. No wonder they feel ashamed of it, for when they find that they are sustaining a church and fellowshipping with professors of religion, many of whom sell children from parents, and husbands from wives, they will leave itas rats would leave a sinking ship. VILLAGES ALONG THE DETROIT RIVER. We aresometimes enguired of about the location and distances from one village to another, &c., on the Canada shore, to which we now make the following brief reply, Detroit River is the dividing line between Canada and Michigan. This stream is about three quarters of a mile in width, 20 miles in length, and from 20 to 50 feet in depth. Its head is Lake St. Clair, and it empties into Lake Erie. The village of Windsor is opposite the city of Detroit, (Michigan.) Sandwich is 2 miles below on the river, and is the county seat of Essex. Malden, which is frequently called Amherstburg, is 17 miles below Sandwich, and at the mouth of Detroit tiver. Chatham is about 60 miles northeast of Sandwich, and situated on the river Thames, The Dawn Institute is 15 miles north of Chatham. There is steamboat conveyance from Sand- wich to Chatham every other day. WHERE DO THe CANADA PEOPLE FIND A Te oe THEIR PRO- This question is sometimes asked by our stranger friends. In this section of Canada they cansell all they can produce without even taking it to market, if they choose, The Canada people contribute largely to the supplying of the Detroit market. The yan- kee hucksters are constantly ransacking the whole country here for eggs, chickens, butter, nd potatoes to supply the Detroit market, In this way thousands of dollars are brought in- to Canada from " Yankeedom." But there is nothing that the farmer produ- ces from his land but what he can find market for it in any of ourtownson the river. Eyen the wood and ashes from the forest will com- mand cash and liberal prices here. We are also asked where good farming land can be bought, and at what price? 'This question is answered in an article in which reference is made to the Canada company land: Land may be bought here within from 1 to 20 miles of Sandwich, at from $4 to $50 per acre, according to location, and all of which shall be good farming land. LIBERTY AND SLAVERY. UNION OF EXTREMES: 4 Discourse on Laberty and Slavery, as they stand related to the justice, prosper.ty and perpetuity of the United Republic of North America, By So- Lyman Brown, A. M., one of the ministers of the New Jerusalem Church in Astor Place, New York. One of the most marked and peculiar char- acteristics of the first beginnings of a new era in the history of mankind, is the struggle which takes place between slavery, moral as well as civil, and the genius of true liberty. If this be so, then surely the morning clouds are already tinged with rays of light that be- token a brighter day. Within a few years, nations that had for centuries bowed their necks in willing obedience to the yoke of the oppressor, have risen and mantully resisted the Babylonish spirit of the past. he prin- ciple that "might makes right," with all its attendant train of false and debasing influen- ces, is fading away--grows dim and shadowy in the distance. Still it is only in prospect- ive that we can behold the full fruition of those hopes which are fondly cherished by the lover of true and real freedom. It exists now only partially, and gradual must be the process by which it takes deep root in the soil of earth, and springs up to a tree bearing the " fruits of righteousness," Under the following text, "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabit- ants thereof," the author speaks thus of the "sacred name of liberty," and the not im- probable beneficial results which may be de- rived from the present holding in bondage of the Africanrace: ; "'TO) sacred name or LIBERTY nas veTu often glorified, and still more frequently dis- graced, in the civil and ecclesiastical annals of our earth." The above is an extract from this remarka- ble sermon, and we hope it may find a wide circulation among the friends of freedom.-- Some of the New Church ministers are taking a noble stand on the side of liberty. For sale by Fox & Eastman, 80 1-2 Jeffer- son Avenue, up stairs. I= Nelson Hackett, of whom Hiram Wilson has spoken in his letter, on ano- ther page, which will be read with deep Interest, is a man who was kidnapped in 1843, after night, and "hurried back to his bonds." from this Province, we believe, sometime -- nl --