perfectness. We derive neither pleasure nor than it was in the days of Fox, Penn and Barencouragement from contemplating the weak-clay, or in those of our own Pembertons, Offley, nesses-small or great-of eminently pious or gifted persons. So far as spots pass over the sun, his light is obscured. Our Holy Pattern was without blemish-perfect. us, We have followed Elizabeth Fry in her career, so far as we could do so with the ocean between for more than a quarter of a century. When the Memoir of her Life was announced, we anticipated unmingled gratification in its perusal. We took it up, highly prejudiced in its favour. But after having carefully examined its pages, we are obliged to confess that our expectations have not been realized. We do not think that thorough justice is done, either to the religious or philanthropic character of its subject. Not being members of the Society of Friends, and not appreciating the nature and the spirit and the bearing of our Testimonies and Doctrines, it is not strange that the Editors should be unable to portray with that lucid clearness which only a deeply experienced individual could do, who had walked by the same rule, and minded the same things-the conflicts-the soul searching baptisms, and humiliating dispensations, into which, their extraordinarily gifted mother was introduced. Her Journal was written mainly for her own benefit-it is remarkable for its candour and artlessness; but many of the entries should surely never have passed through the press. That her associations with the highest classes of society exposed Elizabeth Fry to danger, and often introduced her into an atmosphere unfriendly to Quakerism, it is but reasonable to believe. Indeed she was sensible of it herself, as numerous entries and prayers for preservation, in her Journal, clearly testify. Her "limits," she says, "were large," her line of duty was a remarkably extended one; and so was that of William Penn, Robert Barclay, and Thomas Story. Theirs was not a contracted Quakerism, nor was that of their cotemporaries, but a profession which opened to them a broad field of action into which they were unquestionably called of the Lord, and in which it was their duty to labour: and while thus labouring in his fear, there was surely no reason for them to doubt the all-sufficiency of that grace, by which alone, through faith, the least of us can hope to be saved. Let none, however, presume upon the experience and enlarged liberty of others, but rather let each one mind his own calling. We profess to be ardently attached to the doctrines, and to have in the highest estimation, the testimonies of our Religious Society. Thorough Quakerism, we hold to be Christianity, perfectly illustrated. We drew our knowledge of those doctrines and testimonies from the writings of early Friends-from the New Testament, and the corresponding convictions of our own mind and we would most affectionately caution our young people against the apprehension, that the Quaker's path is now one of less self-denial or Dillwyn. Those of large experience, and entire dedication, may be introduced into a liberty in the Truth, which we, who have scarcely learned the rudiments, cannot dare to suppose ourselves entitled. But it must ever be borne in mind, that this liberty can never, under any circumstances, lead out of the path of self-abasement; that which draws into the broad way, from under the cross, is a delusion. To his own master must every one stand or fall, and let every one-particularly him who thinketh he standeth-take heed lest he fall.* When the second volume shall appear, we intend to resume our notice of the work. U. M. For Friends' Review. Spare the Birds. I have a few words to say to the public on the increase of insects hurtful to vegetation, and if the Editor of the Friends' Review thinks that *To the remarks of our correspondent, on the danger to which Friends are exposed, by frequent and intimate associations with persons whose religious principles and habits of thought are widely different from ours, it may be added, that much will depend upon the motives and objects which lead to such associations. When the prosecution and Christian philanthropy, and by an apprehenof objects, into which any are led by an enlarged sion of religious duty, necessarily leads to frequent intercourse with men whose opinions and practice exhibit little or nothing of the simplicity and selfdenial which constitute a conspicuous characteristic of genuine Quakerism, there is reason to hope that the sense of religious obligation which leads thus engaged from inhaling, from the atmosphere to those engagements, will preserve the servants with which they are surrounded, any elements destructive to the precious life. Elizabeth Fry having, in her early days, run through the giddy circle of fashionable life, and experienced its vanity and frothiness-having herself grasped the phantom, and found it air-was not very likely to Hence, we may reasonably believe that she might, be dazzled by the glitter and tinsel of the world. with little danger to herself, enlist, in the extensive philanthropic labours which constituted the great business of her life, the wealth and influence of men from whose principles and habits she conscientiously dissented. It is indeed no easy matter to perceive how she could have accomplished with the extremes of society. Vice in its lowest what she did without frequently coming in contact and most degrading appearance, and vanity in its most refined and fashionable guise, must have been often before her. Her duty required her to guard against defilement from either: but we may justly question, whether the prudence and caution which require the young and inexperienced to keep aloof from the haunts of dissipation and vice in their more degrading forms, would not almost equally prevent any unnecessary association with the dissipation which often appears under specious disguise in elevated life. ED. journal a suitable medium, I should be glad that they might find a place there. That insects, hurtful to fruit, are on the increase in the Atlantic, or older portion of these States, the most superficial observer, I suppose, has discovered. The cherries, for instance, have become more and more imperfect from the bite or sting of insects, till, this year, the writer has hardly been able to find a single pound, amidst the many choice varieties in market, that had not a considerable, and, in general, much the greater portion, thus spoiled for culinary use. Indeed, in several varieties, it was not easy to find a single cherry, on careful scrutiny, that was not punctured, often in two or three places; and wherever a puncture is, there is an insect, in embryo, or, in esse; usually, when the fruit comes to market, the animal is in the larva or grub state, and often found within the kernel. Plums appear to have fared little better. The peach and other stone fruits have suffered less hitherto in this vicinity, but a friend near Boston thus writes, "The rose-bug has attacked the cherries and peaches, and the latter, of which there was promise of a good crop, are expected to be utterly destroyed." Wheat, maize, the pea; forest, fruit, and ornamental trees; even the grasses, suffer, each from its peculiar insect enemy; for there is a great variety of these tiny spoilers, and they have diverse habits: some move and feed by day, others by night only. Generally, they are indigenous to our country; a few have been imported; but, in turn, we have exported some; the pea-bug, (Bruchus pisi,) for instance, was a native of N. America, and has been introduced with American peas into England, and the south of Europe. 1 as some imagine, poisonous; but like the lizards, and nearly all the snakes of our country, he is perfectly harmless. Being inoffensive, he is also timid, and loves best to dwell where he is least molested. He makes his home under a rail, a stone, or a sod; and some farmers, appreciating his worth, provide him a shelter (which he is pretty sure to find and occupy,) by throwing pieces of plank upon the ground in different parts of every cultivated field; and doubtless, they are richly rewarded. But the birds are our great protectors from the ravages of the insect race, and my object was to put in a plea for them. Yet, while writing the word, I feel the blood mantle the cheek at the thought, that it should be necessary to plead for these delightful companions of my early daysthese, our fellow creatures, and, in their measure, equally entitled with ourselves, to the earth and its fulness. It is well known that many species of this tribe live chiefly, if not wholly, in their wild state, upon insects; but the extent of their usefulness in this respect is not so well known. Few have any just conception of the vast number of insects required by a single pair and their offspring, during the few months they remain with us. Did the farmer know that a pair of robins required for themselves and their brood a number of insects sufficient to ravage a whole orchard, he would surely protect, and not destroy them. Does he see the bark of a favorite apple tree bored by the woodpecker? let him not war with him for that; there was a worm beneath, and he may be assured it has been extracted in the most skilful manner. Some three or four summers ago, the writer, Now, as the insect tribe is very prolific, it wishing to observe more closely than he had would, without some counteracting agent, doubt-done, the habits of the little house-wren (Trogless, overrun, and ere long possess, the whole habitable earth. Such agent has been provided, (not in man, for in the encounter he has been found utterly powerless,) in some of the quadrupeds, in most of the reptiles, and, especially, in the family of birds; many of which make them their prey. Among the reptiles, the toad, the lizard, and the snake, should be named for their efficiency. The toad, especially, seems admirably adapted to destroy the large number of nocturnal insects; seldom moving by day, he keeps diligent watch, in the garden and field, for these nightly depredators; while the husbandman sleeps, these sentinels will, if permitted, guard faithfully his crops. It is well known to many, (yet not sufficiently known,) that the common toad is, in this way, of great benefit, to both farm and garden. True, he is not, to the superficial observer, beautiful; but so neither is he, *Naturalists have hitherto discovered about seven times as many distinct species of insects, as of vegetables, in Europe; and about six times as many in America; i. e. 6 or 7 to one. lodytes adon) then so common, but now less so, it is feared, in this city, placed a nice little box in his yard, against a brick wall, with a northern aspect. This was done late in the season, (about the middle of the 6th month, June) and without much expectation of finding a tenant that year. A pair of wrens had already a nest, in a house perched on a high pole, in a yard less than a square from me, and the male in his wanderings the next day discovered the new tenement. Great were his demonstrations of joy; he went in, came out, fluttered about it and was off, soon to return again with his mate. It was now scrutinized more carefully, within and without: the perch, the ridge, the pillars that ornamented its front, and especially the capacity of the door for the admission of materials for a nest, all seemed to be regarded, and found satisfactory. The male bird frequently returned during incubation, and busied, or amused himself, in carrying in and bringing out straws and sticks, often quite blocking up the door. In a few weeks, their first brood having become fledged, and taken wing, they deserted their the 1st, Also, for the 1st brood, while the 2d was Then if we suppose the parents and two Parents 4 weeks, Whole number for 12 weeks, 12,096 8,064 16,128 4,032 - 52,416 old habitation, and took regular possession of the | But this was a 2d brood; we must add for new; and great industry did these little artizans display in furnishing it appropriately for their use. Not more than a week, I think, elapsed. before it was obvious the process of incubation had again commenced;-and one fine morning, the latter part of the 7th month, it was quite apparent that some event, of great interest, had occurred in the family of our agreeable neighbours. Their assiduity had been rewarded; their nicely lined nest was fully occupied by a breathing progeny; and I never saw joy, in the feathered race, so manifest as in the male present on this occa- This estimate, which provides for a single pair sion. Darting from his house to the fence, and their offspring for 12 weeks* only, seems thence to the overhanging tree, and from branch large; yet, I doubt not, it will be found within to branch, to return in an instant to the perch at the truth, when applied to the smaller insects the door leading to his precious treasure-in a generally. By the destruction, then, of a single moment he comes forth again, his swelling emo- pair of birds, which feed on insects, we expose tions evidently seeking relief in musculer action. our crops to the depredations of 50,000 foes! Fetching a few whirls around the territory of But this is not the whole truth. If we supsome 20 feet, without stopping to light on any pose that one half of this number of insects, or thing, he suddenly attaches himself to the up-25,000, be females, and that this 25,000 produce right brick wall, near his dwelling; his wings beat the wall, the chatter he had all the time kept up becomes a sharp twitter, and he seems in perfect ecstacy. 20 each during the season, the number becomes (besides the parents) 500,000! But if we allow for each female insect 200 offspring, which is believed to be much nearer the ordinary rate of increase, we have 5,000,000 added to the insect race in one year by the destruction of a single pair of birds!! But with the joy came new wants to their household, and great was the industry of these parents in supplying them; very frequent was the return of each to the nest with the needed Could the heedless youth who saunters forth morsel in its bill. What this was, I could not for with gun in hand (a trespasser at law upon every some time make out, but on careful observation field he enters) endangering the lives of his neighfound it to consist of a little spider (Pholcus at-bours, frightening the birds, and perhaps killing a lanticus, I believe,) that had greatly infested the pair-could such a one, I say, reckless as he usupremises for several years. This little, long ally is, and potent only for mischief, be made to limbed, eight eyed, animal,* occupies the shrub-appreciate these numbers, even his hand might bery and out-buildings, and loves to attach him- be staid. But this young vagrant is usually sadself to the ceiling of our rooms. I do not think it probable that their food was restricted to this particular insect, yet as it was the only one that abounded in the neighborhood at that time, and as I never saw them appear to have a different kind in the mouth, I apprehend it was their chief reliance. I frequently counted for ten successive minutes the number of times these parents returned with food to their young; it was from four to seven, and sometimes more, within that period. Now if we take the lowest number, four, for ten minutes, it will give 24 for every hour; and if we allow 12 hours to the day-which is considerably within their working time-we shall have 288 insects for each day; and if we allow 28 days for the fledging of the brood it will give as the consumption of the young for 4 weeks, 8,064 add to this as many more for the parents, 4,032 ly lacking in sagacity; still, the case is not hope- Philadlephia, 9th month, 1847. INDEX. He *It is not forgotten that the 12 weeks constitute less than a quarter of the whole year; but as they may have other habits and other food in other climes, we leave our friends of those regions to note their habits, and to hold up the ægis of protection FRIENDS' REVIEW. PHILADELPHIA, TENTH MONTH 2, 1847. arrive in the conclusion at a satisfactory result, sanctioned, as they most certainly believed, by divine authority. The decision, in this case, was attained by the instrumentality of men who were It is designed to send the succeeding numbers deeply experienced in the work to which they were of this paper to subscribers only. called. When we issued our first number, a month ago, we had not half a dozen subscribers; and we cannot avoid the feeling of gratification when we now glance over the list.. We would, however, again respectfully solicit our friends to continue their ex The reader will find in the present number an extract from a MS. history of North America. It has been generally supposed, even by persons of extensive historical information, that the African slave trade, the opprobrium of the civilized world, owed its vitality, if not its origin, to the encourage-ertions, and transmit, as promptly as may be, the ment given to it by Las Casas, the bishop of Chiapa. One writer, however, the Abbe Gregoire, has stoutly denied that this benevolent prelate ever gave any countenance to that odious commerce. It is apprehended, that the extract before us, places the conduct of Las Casas in its proper light; and may therefore be acceptable to the lovers of historical truth. The article on birds, from the pen of a valued correspondent, we trust will prove interesting to our readers. It is greatly to be wished that the value of this part of the creation could be fully appreciated by the community in general. The wanton cruelty which has almost exterminated the feathered race, in many parts of the country, is unquestionably as impolitic as it is barbarous. They appear to be the agents prepared by a beneficent Providence to keep down the race of worms and insects which prey upon our fields and orchards. Policy, no less than humanity, demands their preservation from the gun of the sportsman. In our account of the Yearly Meetings, it is intended to pursue the course adopted in our preceding number, in relation to those of New York and New England; to use the printed minutes, when such are issued, in case they can be obtained without improper delay; and thus give currency to the narratives of the meetings, as stated by themselves: and in the case of those which do not print their minutes, to obtain, if practicable, an account from some members of the meetings, on whose correctness entire reliance may be placed. The account of Ohio Yearly Meeting, which appears in the present number, was obtained from Friends who attended, and related what they saw and heard. In regard to the diversity of sentiment, which, as journalists, we are compelled to notice, we may observe, that unity of design does not always imply coincidence of judgment-men equally desirous of supporting sound doctrine and correct practice, may disagree in the choice of means. Even among the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, on one occasion, there was much disputing. Under the prevalence of a Christian spirit, they were favoured to result of their labours. There are yet, of course, many neighborhoods from which no intelligence has been received, and from which numerous additions to our subscription book are anticipated. It is scarcely necessary to say that we need and desire an extended list of subscribers; and to obtain them, we must rely upon the kind interest and attention of our friends at a distance. Remittances will be made to the Publisher. Las Casas. For Friends' Review: From a MS. History of North America. Near the end of Ferdinand's reign, the question whether the native Indians could be lawfully retained in slavery, was brought under serious discussion. the extension of the christian religion, among It was mentioned in a former chapter that the heathen nations of the New World, was one of the great advantages expected from the discoveries of Columbus; and that the conversion of the natives of Hispaniola, was a primary object in the view of Isabella. When Ovando, in the beginning of 1502, sailed for that island, a number of ecclesiastics accompanied him, who were designed to instruct the natives in the christian faith. tholomew Las Casas, a native of Seville, who Among his attendants was Barafterwards rendered himself famous by his labours in behalf of the Indians, and became undeservedly notorious by his countenance of the African slave-trade. The father of Las Casas, accompanied Columbus to Hispaniola in 1493, and having amassed a considerable estate, returned to Seville in 1498. The young Las Casas was placed at the University of Salamanca, where he was served by an Indian slave given Indians who had been carried to Spain as slaves him by his father. When Isabella ordered the to be sent back to their own country, the slave of Las Casas was liberated with the rest. This circumstance appears to have fixed the attention of this amiable young man intensely upon the subject of Indian slavery. When, at the age of twenty-eight, he accompanied Ovando to the New World, and saw the oppression to which is not clearly explained. When Bobadilla assumed the government of the island, he caused an enumeration of the natives to be made, reduced them into classes, and distributed them among the colonists, according to his favour or caprice. the natives were subjected, his zeal was kindled | feudal service, the laborers thus employed being to the highest pitch.* And in this he was not required to serve during a stated part of their alone. The ecclesiastics who were charged time, and to be at liberty during the rest. This with instructing the natives, soon discovered distribution of Indians, who were nominally that the cruelties of the Spaniards, and particu- free, among the colonists, as laborers either in the larly the burden of slavery, rendered their in- cultivation of the land or in the working mines, structions almost totally unavailing. The Do- assumed the name of repartimientos; and became minicans took the lead in remonstrating against intolerably oppressive. What portion of time the prevailing system of slavery, as contrary to these Indians were required, under the adminisnatural justice, and to the principles of chris-tration of Columbus, to labour for the Spaniards, tianity, as well as sound policy. But the habits and sentiments of the people at large were opposed to the doctrines thus offered to their acceptance. Some ecclesiastics, particularly of the Franciscan order, showed an inclination to favour the opinions of the laity. They, however, did not undertake to meet the question on christian grounds. The sophistry of later times, which, in the hands of some professed ministers of the gospel, has attempted to enlist the sacred writings in the service of slavery, does not appear to have belonged to those Franciscans. They defended, or attempted to defend, the slavery of the Indians, on the principles of expediency. They alleged that it was impossible to carry on any improvements in the colony, unless the Spaniards had the power of compelling the natives to labour. The Dominicans, disregarding these interested considerations, refused to admit to the usual privileges of church membership, such of their countrymen as held the natives in servitude. At length both parties sent delegates to Spain, to submit their respective opinions to the decision of the king; and Ferdinand empowered a committee of his privy counsel, assisted by some of the most eminent civilians in Spain, to hear and examine the case. After a long discussion, the opinion of the Dominicans prevailed, and the Indians were declared free, and entitled to all the natural rights of man. But this was merely a theoretical triumph, for the practice in the island continued unchanged. The slavery then existing in Hispaniola, appears to have been of two kinds. Prisoners of war, among whom were some natives of the Carribee islands, and the few negroes who had been imported, were held as absolute slaves. But the system of repartimientos was probably more extensive, destructive and oppressive than undisguised slavery. The insurrection of Roldan in 1499, and the reluctant assent of Columbus to his demands are noticed in a former chapter. One of the arrangements then made with Roldan and his followers, required the Caziques in their vicinity, instead of paying tribute to the admiral, to furnish a number of Indians to cultivate the lands of the colonists. This was a species of * Irving, Vol. 2, p. 320. From the account of this matter given by the early historians, I infer that under, the government of Columbus, the Caziques were required to furnish a stated number of labourers, whom they might select from among their subjects according to their discretion; but that under Bobadilla, all the natives capable of labour were compelled to serve the colonists during a part of their time. This service was exacted with rigour, and rendered exceedingly grievous. The accounts of Bobadilla's oppression, which reached the Spanish sovereigns, roused the indignation of Isabella; and when Ovando was sent to supersede him, the Indians were declared free, their labours not to be compulsive except in the royal service; and for these they were to be punctually paid. Ovando, in 1503, represented to the sovereigns that the entire freedom granted to the natives was attended with consequences ruinous to the colony; that they were lazy and improvident, and kept aloof from the Spainards and from religious instruction. The representation that without compulsion those people could not be converted to christianity, had its influence with Isabella; and orders were given to Ovando to spare no pains to attach the Indians to the Spanish nation, and to the Catholic religion; to make them labour moderately, if essential for their own good, but to temper authority with persuasion and kindness, and to pay them fairly for their services. Under the profession of obedience to this injunction, the system of repartimientos was rendered more rigid than before. The services exacted were intolerably severe; the term of servitude extended to six or eight months in the year; the wages allowed were scarcely of any value; the food with which they were supplied was totally inadequate to their support; and as the labourers were often separated several days' journey from their families, numbers of them perished, when their term of service was expired, in their attempt to reach their homes.* Such was the oppression under the adminis * Irving. |