well as in this country, under the hammer. The Scots taken in battle were sold to slavery, the royalist prisoners, and the Catholics of Ireland. The prisoners of Monmouth were eagerly sought as a merchantable commodity. Jeffries, the famous judge of James II, considered these prisoners as worth "ten or fifteen pounds apiece."

In regard to African slavery, it appears first to have taken deep root in Africa itself, though it is clear, from modern researches, that this people were held in slavery by the Egyptians, as proved by their monuments. The Africans, at no period of history, were devoid of slavery among themselves. They traded slaves to the Tyrians and Carthagenians. Slavery, says the Encyclopedia, seems indeed to have prevailed through all Africa, from the very first peopling of that unexplored country; and we doubt if, in any age of the world, the unhappy negro was absolutely secure of his personal freedom, or even of not being sold to a foreign trader. The African princes were in the habit of destroying thousands of their prisoners, before an opportunity offered of selling them. The Guinea coast supplied the Arabs with slaves, hundreds of years before the Portuguese embarked in the traffic. The Arabs of the desert have always been served by negro slaves. In 651, the king of Numidia promised an annual present of Ethiopian slaves to the Arabs of Egypt. Negro slaves were found in Greece [Bancroft]. In 1100, they must have been uncommon in Europe, for we learn, the crusaders burst into laughter on seeing some negroes in Asia, so comical was their appearance. It appears, however, the Portuguese, fifty years before the discovery of America, found the "trade in negro slaves, having curled hair," very profitable. The Spaniards vied with them in the trade at Seville. Isabella excepted the Moors, or negroes of Africa, from the act emancipating the Indians of America.

Queen Elizabeth was so delighted with the success of John Hawkins's slave operations in America, that she became a partner in his monopoly, sharing his gains and protecting him in his worst enterprises.

The early history of slavery in the United States we have already given (See Thornton, 26th and 27th pages, for the Quaker and Yankee participation in it). The West India Company sent slaves to New York by thousands. The Stewarts, and even Queen Anne, patronized the traffic. Amsterdam participated in its results in her corporate capacity. Pennsylvania maintained that it was "neither just nor convenient to emancipate her slaves;" and Rhode Island, the greatest of all

* See the stirring but disgusting picture of the scene, when peers and digni taries and favorites, male and female, importuned the king for the privilege of disposing of these prisoners, and the success which attended them, in Macaulay's History of England.

the slave traders, "doubted if slaves should be baptized, as then they might become free."

It is well known how the introduction of slavery was forced upon the South, and how long resisted. The northern country even declared, that no person should own, in the colonies, land at all, unless he would purchase at least four negro slaves to every hundred acres!

ART. III-DE SOTO IN ALABAMA.

INVASION OF THE TERRITORY OF ALABAMA, BY ONE THOUSAND SPANIARDS, UNDER FERDINAND DE SOTO, IN 1540.-By A. J. PICKETT.

MONTGOMERY, ALA., Brittan and De Wolf, 1849. THE above title introduces a pamphlet, of some forty pages, to the attention of the reading public. If taken by themselves, the facts would excite no inconsiderable interest in those who love the stirring incidents of early adventure, and delight to trace the history of genius, amid scenes of hardship and suffering. To gratify such tastes, is not, however, the aim of Colonel Pickett. The sketch of De Soto is introductory to a history of Alabama, and forms the first chapter of the forthcoming work. Viewed in this connection, it serves a higher purpose than to please the fancy and awaken romantic sentiments. Its design is to exhibit historic truth-a form of truth that every age appreciates more and more, not only for the principles it illustrates, and the lessons it unfolds, but for that union with the past which the present covets, and for those impressive associations which it creates with the material scenery which surrounds us in our daily life.

The records of our country's first exploration and settlement, are records of unparalleled interest. If they are studied as exhibitions of human character, they afford an opportunity for the philosophic to analyze the power of absorbing passions, and to mark the causes which stimulate ardent minds to penetrate into hidden forests and desert wilds. If contemplated for imaginative pleasure, they bring under review the stronger elements of our nature, as they hasten into the fiercest strife, with whatever can develop manly endurance and mighty courage. The age in which these exhibitions took place, was calculated to arouse all kinds of motives and quicken all springs of action. A new impulse had been given to religion, philosophy, government and commerce. Men. in every department of life, felt the sense of power awakening

*Thornton's "Slavery," p. 29, 32.

within them; they began to realize their nature, and, though it was a realization, in many instances, of its lower forms, the way was, nevertheless, opened for higher and nobler manifestations. Amid these circumstances the world within, where principles, sentiments and passions, hold their sway and demand their gratification, and the world without, where unexplored lands held valuable treasures and exuberant soils awaited tillage-that series of wonders commenced on the western continent, which, in our day, is progressing toward such magnitude and grandeur. Here, one race after another has struggled for ascendency. Here, northern and southern Europe has repeated the ancient rivalry for preeminence. Here, all that is designated by talent, cour age, skill and perseverance, has spread itself over a field, in which the very vastness of mountain ranges, and the wide-spread plains, seem to have been ordained as the witnesses of that loftier sublimity of mind and enterprise, of which they are the fainter symbols.

Among the earlier historic names of our country, De Soto holds a prominent place, as well from the fame which he brought to the continent with him, as from the incidents of his remarkable career among the Indians of Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Tracing the life of this heroic man, from his services under Pizarro until his death on the Mississippi, we witness one continued exemplification of that strength of character, and capacity for effort, which a high purpose and a powerful passion are able to produce. The experience of mili tary life, in Peru, had been sufficient to develop a soldier's spirit, and fix a soldier's taste within him; while its natural scenery, and supposed wealth, had amply sufficed to give him a habit of imaginativeness, in all that respected material objects. To be as great in conquest as Pizarro, seems to have been an absorbing idea with him; and, to realize it, he was willing to endure the suffering and brave the perils of the wilderness; in a word, he was ready to pay the price of such distinction. Obtaining a commission from Charles V, to conquer Florida, he sailed from Cuba, in 1539, and, with six hundred soldiers, landed, in May, on its soil. The gilded shadow he was pursuing was not there. Allured by his own passions, as well as deluded by the natives, he continued his search, and, though disappointment succeeded disappointment, he persevered in penetrating forests, and marching over large tracts of country, cultivating the friendship, or subduing the hostility, of the Indians. The march was through the country, at present divided between the States of Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. It has been accurately traced, by Colonel Pickett, who, in this, as in other things, evinces the minuteness and precision which are so admirable in the work of a historian. De Soto discovered the

Mississippi, in 1541. The fact, and its subsequent connections, are thus presented by our author:

"The Spaniards reached the Mississippi river in May, 1541, and were the first to discover it, unless Cabacca de Vaca crossed it twelve years before, in wandering to Mexico, with his four companions-which is not probable from the evidence afforded by his journal. De Soto consumed a year in marching over Arkansas, and returned to the 'Father of Waters' at the town of Guachaya, below the mouth of the Arkansas river, the last of May, 1542. He here engaged in the construction of two brigantines, to communicate with Cuba. That great man, whose spirits had long forsaken him, who had met with nothing but disappointments, and who had, in the most perilous wanderings, discovered no country like Peru and Mexico, became sick, with a slow and malignant fever. He appointed Moscoso to the command, bid his officers and soldiers farewell, exhorted them to keep together, in order to reach that country which he was destined never to see, and then closed his eyes in death! Thus died Ferdinand de Soto, one of the most distinguished captains of that or any age! To conceal his death, and protect his body from Indian brutalities, it was placed in an oaken trough, and silently plunged into the middle of the Mississippi, on a dark and gloomy night! Long did the muddy waters wash the bones of one of the noblest sons of Spain! He was the first to behold that river, the first to close his eyes in death upon it, and the first to find a grave in its deep and turbid channel!"

We take great pleasure in calling public attention to this interesting and important work. It comprises the history of Alabama, from 1540 until 1820, and is written with great care and research. Whatever his enthusiasm, study and scholarship, could do toward this object, Colonel Pickett has faithfully done. No means have been spared, and no labor avoided, that were requisite in the production of a work, which is, obviously, the favorite object of his life. If any man should have an exemption from the liabilities that so emphatically and universally beset the candidate for public honor, and the aspirant for public fame, it is the hard-working historian; and we cannot but hope, that, in this instance, such industry, zeal and talent, as exhibited by Colonel Pickett, will receive a generous response in the hearts of his countrymen.

ART. IV.-REVIEW OF DR. CHANNING ON SLAVERY.

BY JOHN FLETCHER, A. M., OF NATCHEZ, MISS.

J. WORKS OF WM. ELLERY CHANNING, D. D., IN SIX VOLUMES. TENTH EDITION. BOSTON, 1849.

2. STUDIES ON SLAVERY, BY JOHN FLETCHER, A. M., OF CONCORDIA PARISH, LOUISIANA. (IN MANUSCRIPT, P. 128.)

THE style of Dr. Channing is easy, flowing and persuasive. The language is generally clear, often elevated, sometimes sublime. Few can read Channing's writings and not feel the impression, whatever may be the error of his doctrine, that the author added to his literary eminence a purity of intention. Such writings must always make a deep impression on the reader; and this fact of their moral power prompts the present essay. It may, indeed, be said of Channing, what Channing said of Fenelon:

"He needs to be read with caution, as do all who write from their own deeply-excited minds. He needs to be received with deductions and explanations. We fear that the very Admiration prepares

excellencies of Fenelon may shield his errors. the mind for belief, and the moral and religious sensibility of the reader may lay him open to impressions, which, whilst they leave his purity unstained, may engender causeless solicitude."- Vol. 1, p. 85.

Dr. Channing's sympathics for every appearance of human suffering for every grade of human imperfection-gave a peculiar phasis, perhaps most amiable, to his intellect, religion and writings. He sought perfection for himself: he was ardent to behold it universal. Heaven must forever be the home of such a spirit, but the scenes of carth gave agitation and grief. Limited, in his earthly associations, to the habits of the North, the very purity of his heart led him to attack what he deemed the most wicked sin of the South. His politics were formed upon the model of his mind. Religion lifted him on her golden wing, and science aided in the extent and elevation of his mind.

But O! Thou, being God eternal, why not this earth made heaven! Why thy most perfect work imperfection! Why thy child, clothed with holiness or shod with the gospel, run truant to thy law, thy prov idence and government!

But, lo! we are not of thy council. We were not called when the foundations of eternity were laid! We are truly all very small be

NOTE. The editor arknowledges his indebtedness to Mr. Forbes, long connected with the Free Trader, of Natchez, Miss., for the manuscripts now, for the first time, committed to print.