A PETITION.

In this hush of midnight's hour, Owning Thy Almighty power, Feeling still Thy heavenly love Falling from Thy home above, Humbly, as on bended knee, Father! now I come to Thee.

Though the slave, beneath the sun,
Prays that life may soon be done;
Though to madness goads the lash,
Dripping from each gory gash,
Still, our Father! not for him
Do I raise this midnight hymn.
Lonely is his cabin'd home;
There kind faces may not come;
All that was his staff and stay
Plucked by cruel men away,
Thou who see'st the sparrows fall,
Hast looked down and seen it all.

In this solemn hour of night,
While Thy stars are shining bright;
All the glorious hosts on high,
Marching through the deepened sky,
Thou hast one whose steady ray
Points the wanderer on his way,
Through his long and weary flight,
Thou his guard by day and night:
When the noontide sun is high
Through his covert looks thine eye,
And through all his midnight way
Thou art still his guide and stay.

Father! not for him I cry-
Thou hast noted every sigh;
Every low and stifled moan
Thou hast listened to alone;
Every burst of wild despair,
Every rough, untutored prayer..
Not a flower within the wood,
Hidden in deep solitude,
Lifts its head toward the sky
Unmarked by thy all-seeing eye;
Not a wail from sorrow riven
But is registered in Heaven.
In oppression's darkest hour,
By thy own Almighty power
Thou canst rend the veil of sin;
Let the light of Heaven flow in;
Ope the prison doors, although
Watched and guarded by the foe.
But, oh Father! ere thy wrath
Falls upon the oppressor's path,
Dark with sin of every name,
Hugging still his deepest shame,
Father! let Thy light fall in,
Fall upon his heart of sin.

May his spirit's deepest night
Flee belore Thy searching light:
May he see Thy frown on high
O'er the dark embattled sky,
And by his sacrifice to Heaven,
He and our country be forgiven.
For that band who in Thy name,
Cry aloud the people's shame-
Still, in every trying hour,
Feeling Thy sustaining power-
In their days of want and need,
Father! still Thy people feed.

Let Thy wisdom guide the pen Telling of the wrongs of men ; Let Thy spirit rest on those Pleading for the captive's woes; With a holier strength of will Their despairing bosoms fill.

Deeper trust and truer love

Lift their hearts to Thee above;
Father! through the weary fight,
Make them valiant with Thy might;
With Thy heavenly armour on
May the victory be won.

When the captive shall arise,
Free beneath the arching skies,
Humbly may they look to Thee-
Who alone hast set him free-
Joining in the high acclaim,
Giving praises to thy name.

Non-Slaveholder.

SUMMARY OF NEWS.

EUROPE. The steamer Cambria arrived at New York on the 25th ult. with Liverpool dates to the 11th. The Cholera appears to be increasing in Great Britain. In London and its vicinity, the deaths were reported at about 65 weekly, while the number of fresh cases occurring daily, varied from ten to twenty. The disease was however most severe at Edinburgh, where, up to the 8th, 468 cases had occurred, of which 243 had proved fatal, 54 recovered, and 171 were still under treatment, or the result not stated. On the 8th, however, only 27 new cases were reported, while there were 49 on the 7th. The great manufacturing towns and districts, had so far escaped the malady, which has nevertheless appeared at Dunkirk, on the Northern coast of France. Williams, part owner of the Irish Tribune newspaper, has been acquitted. His partner, O'Doherty, has been sentenced to transportation for ten years. The French Assembly having concluded the revision of the Constitution, finally adopted it on the 4th by a vote of 739 to 30. It was to be formally proclaimed in Paris on the 12th ult. and in the provinces on the 19th, with great solemnities. Vienna has again fallen under the power of the Emperor. The inhabitants appear to have defended themselves with great resolution for some time, against the immense force opposed to them. Hungarian army, aided by a sally of the Viennese, attacked the Imperial soldiery on the 29th of 10th month, but were defeated after a bloody conflict. The city was taken on the 1st ult. and the conqueror imposed his own conditions upon the people, among which were the dissolution of the academic legion and national guard, the suspension of all journals and associations, and the prohibition of street assemblages of more than ten persons. The Emperor has ordered the Diet to convene at a small town called Kremsier. The insurrection in Lombardy appears to be wide-spread, and the Italian cause has triumphed in several places, but the accounts are not sufficiently detailed to give a clear understanding of the condition of affairs. The strong probability that the Hungarians now in Italy will make common cause with the insurgents, gives the latter considerable hope of success, especially in case Sardinia should renew the war.

The

VOL. II.

EDITED BY ENOCH LEWIS.

Published Weekly by Josiah Tatum,

No. 50 North Fourth Street,
PHILADELPHIA.

Price two dollars per annum, payable in advance, or six copies for ten dollars.

This paper is subject to newspaper postage only.

For Friends' Review.

MEMORIALS OF REBECCA JONES.

NO. XIX.

(Continued from page 165.)

R. Jones to David Sutton. Dear friend,-Our dear friend, Hannah Cathrall, of Philadelphia, was, a few years ago, presented by her relation, James King, with the sum of fifty pounds, understanding that she had suffered through the trials which were permitted to prevail in America. And she, being informed of the deplorable state of his affairs, was uneasy to retain this sum, which he, through intended kindness, had given her; having a tender regard for the reputation of our religious Society, and to manifest that uprightness which the principle we profess leads into, she has requested that this money might be returned to the assignee, and that the creditors may be informed thereof.

Our said friend is rather in low circumstances, but this did not prevail upon her to retain this money, which have ordered into thy hands, I am, &c.,

and desire thee to pay.

R. J.

The money above referred to, being offered to one of James King's assignees, he refused to accept it, till the committee of the creditors should meet. Several of the committee being informed that a bill for the amount was ready for their acceptance, they said in surprise that it was such an instance of integrity and uprightness as they had never known, that it reflected unspeakable honour to the Society of Friends," and that they thought the creditors would not take it. We find, at a subsequent date, the last sentiment repeated; but, whether the money was at length accepted, the compiler has not been able to ascertain.

The following certificate was granted to her by

.

No.12.

London Yearly Meeting, although she notes that she had no prospect of a time for returning to her home.

From our Yearly Meeting of Ministers and Elders, held in London by adjournment from the month inclusive, 1787; to the Monthly Meet26th of the Fifth month, to the 4th of the Sixth ing of Friends in Philadelphia for the Northern District, the Quarterly Meeting of the said city, and General Meeting of Ministers and Elders for Pennsylvania and New Jersey:

Dear friends,-Our beloved friend, Rebecca Jones, having in a weighty and solid manner informed us that she apprehends her religious service and labour among Friends in this nation is so nearly completed, as that she may be likely to return before our next Yearly Meeting, and proposed to this meeting's consideration the granting her of our certificate; these may, therefore, inform you that in the course of her gospel labours in visiting the churches in these parts, she hath endeavoured faithfully to discharge the trust committed to her; and in the exercise of her gift, hath been favoured with renewed ability to labour to the comfort and edification of Friends, and hath been particularly serviceable in the promotion of our Christian Discipline; her conduct and deportment having been becoming her station in the Church. And this meeting, after weighty and mature deliberation, leaves her at liberty to return to her native country, if the Lord permit, when she may have finished the remaining part of her service. And, in the conclusion of this, her arduous engagement, we hope she will be favoured with the evidence of peace and divine consolation.

We salute you in the love and fellowship of the gospel, and remain your friends, brethren and sisters.

(Signed by 204 Friends.)

About this time, she had in London eight meetings, exclusively for servants, apprentices and poor labourers. The whole number thus visited was 500," many of them evidently under the notice of the great Master of us all."

Sixth month 2d, she writes from London to Joseph Williams,-"I have esteemed it among the Lord's mercies and favours, that I have been enabled to sit most of the meetings, and have thankfully rejoiced with my dear friends in the renewed sense of the heavenly Father's love,

which has eminently attended this solemn assembly in its various sittings. More Friends have come up from the different counties and places than have been known for many years.

With solid satisfaction, I may inform thee that the newly established Women's Yearly Meeting here, increases in weight and experience; their deliberations have been profitable and solemn, and I am strong in the faith, that men Friends will not have cause to repent their indulgence to their sisters in this and other instances. Very pleasant has been the sight and company of so many of my friends from your nation; and they have had their use and service in the general muster. I hope it will be not only an easy, but a desirable thing in future, for surely the wages will be adequate to the toil."

R. Jones to John Pemberton.

Plough Court, 7th mo. 25th, 1787.

About half an hour ago, dear Patience Brayton, &c., left us, taking an affectionate leave of dear C. H. and poor me; I have striven for leave to go with them, but, it not being granted, I am desirous of obtaining strength to stand fully resigned to whatever may be permitted to attend. But this has been a bitter cup indeed. Our dear friends seem all sweet and easy. They go at 6 o'clock to-morrow morning to Gravesend, to be on board at 11.

*

upon him, and whose blindness is that which is peculiar to his messenger."

(To be continued.)

For Friends' Review. PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.

Some extracts from the Introduction, with brief remarks, on a new edition of Pilgrim's Progress, in 4to., lately published in London, by George Offor, one of the magistrates for the county of Middlesex.

This critical revision of that far-famed allegory, was undertaken at the request of one of the literary societies of London, and has been accomplished in a style and manner which fairly eclipses all former editions. The paper, typography, and engravings are of the first order, and the editor has been at wonderful pains to insure accuracy, so as to render the work a perfect copy of Bunyan's manuscript. He has detected and corrected many deviations from the original, which, in a vast number of editions previous editors had fallen into, many of them having transcribed their predecessor's errors, and not unfrequently added some of their own. Some of these errors are a corruption of the text, but all are here exploded, and John Bunyan is made to speak his own language, without gloss or attempt at refinement. This wondrous

They parted for a season about the middle of Ninth month. E. Hoyland accompanying R. J. in a pretty extensive range, and then yielding her place to L. Hawkesworth Our pilgrim was not only, in the companions of her journeys, blessed with a signal realization of Arthur Howell's prospect for her at her embarkation, that Queens should be her nursing mothers; but striking coincidences in the mode of her being thus furnished, evinced that these helpers were provided for her in the care of Him who put her forth. Sarah R. Grubb, in referring to a prospect, which was unexpectedly realized afterwards, of joining her, for a short space, in a particular service, thus instructively speaks of the authority needful even to act as helpers to others in these solemn engagements. Iam more and more convinced, that if we are right, we are not at our own disposal, and that even the most plausible inclinations are not in general to be followed, without they are accompanied with some little sense of Divine bidding to render them profitable and safe. The protecting providence of the Father of mercies, is, inded, repeatedly manifested to those whose care is cast

the American editions, and the present editor has had access to a rare copy of the first edition. It is hardly possible to calculate the number which have appeared in English since that period. Translations have also been made into French, Flemish, Dutch, Welsh, Gaelic, Irish, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Danish, German, Estonian, Armenian, Burmese, Singhalese, Orissa, Hindostanee, Bengalee, Tamil, Marathi, Canarese, Gujaratti, Malay, Arabic, Samoan, Tahitian, Pichuana, Bechuana, Malagary, and New Zealand. To these may be added an edition in Hebrew and in Latin.

Prefixed to the present splendid volume, the talented editor has given a copious introduction of 168 pages of interesting matter relative to the subject, besides a valuable memoir of the life and character, writings and sufferings, of John Bunyan, with a sketch of the period in which he lived.

For some information of the intolerant times in which Bunyan lived, the author acknowledges the courtesy of Friends in permitting him to consult the records of the Society at Devonshire-house. He appears to have made a liberal and candid use of this privilege; also of the liberty which was granted him, of inspecting the

The author speaks in terms of strong feeling of the barbarities practiced against conscientious dissenters, for not conforming to the rites of the dominant church in the reign of Charles II. These are his words: "This fanatic church of England, soon obtained laws in direct violation of all the king's oaths and declarations, such as the act of Uniformity, the Test and Corporation act, the five miles and Conventicle acts, and a revival of the old statutes for compelling all persons to attend the church service, and thus forcing the weak-minded to become hypocritical members of the sect which was then, and continues to this day, to be preferred by the state as best suiting its purposes. Among the rest, was an act, ordering all the subjects of the realm, for ever, to meet in their respective churches on the 29th May, in each year, and thank God that these kingdoms were on that day new born and raised from the dead; meaning the restoration of the Stuart dynasty; an act which has not been repealed, but remains to this day a disgrace to our statute book."

The author observes, that "the same language which Southey uses to justify the Church of England, in sending our Pilgrim to prison, is equally calculated to justify the horrid cruelties practised upon those pious and amiable martyrs, Tyndale, Latimer, or Ridley: or even to vindicate the state religion of a former time in crucifying the Saviour." (Introduction lv.) Quoting William Penn, he queries-" And what have such cruelties procured-the judgment of God, the hatred of men; to the sufferers, misery; to their country, decay of people and trade; and to their own consciences, an infinite guilt. Men must have no conscience at all, or be hanged for having a conscience not fashionable."-(From England's Present Interest, 1675, by William Penn.) He winds up this manly, learned, and excellent treatise, by saying: "That the interests of Britain will stand longer upon the legs of the English people than of the English Church." The author adds-"Persecution for his pure religious feelings, drove William Penn and thousands of the best English citizens across the Atlantic, to seek among the savages, the repose denied to them by the Church of England; and to found a state and an empire where the perfect equality and happiness of every sect, the non-interference of the state with the spiritual things of conscience and of God, will render it essentially the most mighty of empires, and an unbounded blessing to the whole universe." p. lvii.

The author observes, that the trial at Vanity Fair, in Pilgrim's Progress, is an almost unconscious operation of quiet, but keen, satire, upon the trials which took place at that time, sanctioned by all the formalities of law. "They brought them forth to their trial," says Bunyan, "in order to their condemnation.' And adds,

read the trial of William Penn and William Mead, which took place in August, 1670. They were indicted for preaching in Gracechurch-street, the police and military having taken possession of the Friends' meeting house there. The jury refused to find the prisoners guilty, upon which the judge addressed them-Gentlemen, you shall not be discharged till we have a verdict that the court will accept, and you shall be locked up without meat, drink, fire, or tobacco; we will have a verdict, by the help of G-, or you shall starve for it.' ** * * "The jury persisted in their verdict of not guilty, and for this they were sent to Newgate." The author cites the names of the jury, names, he says, "that ought to be printed in gold, and exhibited in the house of every nonconformist, and sculptured in marble to ornament our new House of Commons."

Dr. Cheevers remarks-"When the English Established Church considered herself unsafe, unless Bunyan and many hundred kindred minds were shut up in prison, it proved itself to be a disgrace to the gospel, and an injury to a free people."

Immediately after passing those sanguinary laws, made to gratify a bigotted and avaricious priesthood, that author observes, that "a hurricane of persecution followed, and all the jails in the kingdom soon became filled with those of our countrymen, who, by their virtue and piety, were the brightest ornaments of Christianity. While these barbarities were perpetrating, desolations followed in rapid succession. A fearful pestilence swept away the inhabitants of the metropolis, followed in the next year by a con. flagration, which destroyed the cathedral, magazines, houses, and enormous wealth. Again, in the succeeding year, came a Dutch fleet, which took Sheerness, destroyed our shipping, and caused a degree of consternation and confusion in the looks of all men, never before witnessed." Still the persecution of Christians was continued in all its vigour. Bunyan was one among the first persons punished under the sanction of these wicked laws; and became a victim for the virtue of refusing to be a hypocrite. He was warned, and might have escaped for that time, if he had omitted to preach at the village of Samsell, or even by altering the time; but no fear could make him swerve one jot from the path of duty. The constable entered the meeting, and going up to the pulpit, laid his hand on him. He then gave himself up to those who had come to apprchend him. Bunyan's sufferings in the new prospect of going to prison, were aggravated by his affectionate feeling for his beloved daughter, and with tender apprehension, he speaks of her in language of impassioned solicitude: "Poor child! thought I, what sorrows art thou likely to have for thy portion in this world! Thou must be beaten, must beg, suffer hunger, cold,