Communicated by Rev. William Bevan, Secretary to the Liverpool Anti-Slavery Society. At a Meeting of the Committee of the Liverpool AntiSlavery Society, held on Wednesday Morning, Feb. 19, 1840, John Cropper, Jun., Esq., in the Chair, "It was unanimously resolved, That the Rev. Joseph Blanco White be elected an Honorary Member of this Committee." Dear Sir, Answer. I have read your communication of this date with an interest which partakes of deep emotion. In my earliest youth I frequently thought on the horrible injustice with which the civilized nations of Europe and America treated the unfortunate Africans, and both in conversation and in writing I have ever since endeavoured to raise sympathy in their favour. I remember to have written a book in Spanish, which was published by the African Institution for circulation in Spain, and so powerfully affected was I while collecting the heart-rending facts of which I intended to make use, in order to move the compassion of my countrymen, that the pages of my MS. were actually stained with my tears. Years have passed, during which a miserable state of health has prevented my assisting the friends of the Slaves in their benevolent labours, though my heart has always been with them. It gives me therefore the greatest pleasure to find that my name is not unknown to the Committee of the Liverpool Anti-Slavery Society. Their kind acknowledgment of my past exertions excites my sincerest gratitude. I only lament that I am quite useless. But if my pen can be of any service, either in English or Spanish, I hope the Committee will suggest to me some way or other in which I might devote it once more to the cause of the injured Slaves. Accept my best thanks for the friendly expressions of your letter, and believe me, dear Sir, Yours most respectfully and sincerely, J. B. W. Sunday, Feb. 23rd. The night tolerable: the morning miserable. At about two in the afternoon a flow of blood ran down the left nostril. It continued without interruption for four hours. 25th. Weak and miserable; the head in a state which seems to threaten a determination of blood whenever the mind is actively employed, as in writing. To Miss L 22, Upper Stanhope-street, Liverpool, My dear Miss L March 4th, 1840. I have had very lately an attack of blood to my head, which does not allow me to think deeply upon any subject; but I will nevertheless give you a few general thoughts on what you say in your last letter. Were your mind free from the prejudices of an orthodox education, you would soon settle the question in which you are involved. Your only safety lies in strict method. You must try to convince yourself that whatever conclusions you arrive at in a fair examination of religion, you cannot be guilty in the eyes of God. This must become an habitual conviction; else you cannot have any peace of mind. You must, on the other hand, exclude all mere feeling from your examination. You must not allow any weight whatever to the consideration of comfort as arising from belief. We do not look for comfort, but for truth. If we obtain truth, we may be sure we shall not be made unhappy by it. Unless you have courage to proceed in this way, you will not find rest to your soul. The mass of early prejudice which you have still to eradicate is very great. I do not speak of you in particular, but of all who are brought up in the mental mould of a Church. I am sorry I cannot offer you my services in procuring a copy of Salvador. I continue fixed to a chair, and incapable of standing on my feet for a moment. The booksellers here, as every where else, do not like to deal in foreign books. I have entirely given up the attempt of getting books from abroad. There are many minds engaged in the same inquiries as yourself. The time is come when all Church-Christianity must be swept off. Ever yours sincerely, JOSEPH BLANCO WHITE. March 7th. Acute pain in the left shoulder and arm,-kept me awake in great suffering. I am wretched. March 9th. Much pain in the arm during the day, -and still more in the night. March 10th. It is necessary to be acquainted with the cheerfulness and benevolent simplicity of heart of my old and most valuable friend, the Rev. William Bishop, to enjoy the spirit of the following playful verses, occasioned by his delight in the new system of Postage, and my recommendation of Blundell's palm-wax candles. But I will not deprive myself of the pleasure of seeing these lines again: I will not let them perish, though many may charge me with preserving a trifle which the author did not intend to live more than one day. O worthy, worthy Rowland Hill! Then take my penny and my sheet- And worthy, worthy Blanco White! For wicks, the merit which display It is curious that I composed an answer in verse while dressing myself, and wrote them in the beginning of a letter which I sent immediately to the post. In the mean time, I tore a bit of paper where the verses were written in pencil: so I have lost them; not a great loss indeed; for besides the poor character of the poetry, I wrote under a mistake. I thought Bishop had said, "thou honest Blanco White," and I made this the point of the epigram; but it is worthy." Here, however, are the fragments of my composition, which put together runs thus: Yes, I will so be called: 'tis now my right March 14th. For several days I have done nothing, but poring over musical chords. March 18th. Night as usual: very ill in the morning. Received, through the post, a pamphlet against Apostolical Succession, by the Rev. Henry Acton, of Exeter. As I first read hastily the title of the pamphlet, I felt quite alarmed at the idea that the Bishop of Exeter intended to set a member of his clergy upon me, for the purpose of conversion. * [* The following letter from his former pupil, the late Rev. E. T. Daniell, shows that his old coadjutor in the Roman Catholic controversy still retained his friendly feelings towards him.] 77, Park Street, Grosvenor Square, March 19th, 1835. My dear Mr. Blanco White, It is so long since I wrote to you, or heard from you, that I am very anxious to see your handwriting again, as well as to favour you with a sight of mine. You may or you may not know that I am fixed in London, and that I am assistant minister of St. Mark's Chapel, North Audley Street. You have, I think, in former days, fiddled with " my master," Mr. Allen Cooper, a very good man, who lets me go pretty well my own way, (I mean that he does not quarrel with my doctrine,) and whose cure is so satisfactory, that I have taken unfurnished lodg |