quietly, by the ladies in Great Britain. Another meeting was appointed to be held during the following week, for the purpose of organising an Olive Leaf Society. this movement prevails in America, and the Committee look forward with confident anticipation to the results of the combined efforts of their friends on both sides of the Atlantic during the ensuing session of Parliament. Gleanings. LIVED LONG ENOUGH.-In addressing the court he was strongly attached, the late Mr. Webster and bar on the death of a young lawyer, to whom said, " His race was short; but short as it was, he lived long enough to do what some of us who December 8.-Continued on to Boston, and broke ground for a great demonstration in Fanueil Hall on behalf of Ocean Penny In the retrospect of the valuable labours Postage. The next day we called upon of Elihu Burritt in this and the other the Hon. Abbot Lawrence, formerly Ame- departments of League operations, the rican minister in London, where we had Committee feel it only due to E. B. to state often seen him on the subject of this postal that, from the earliest formation of the reform. He received us with great kind- League of Brotherhood, his services have ness and courtesy, and entered heartily into been entirely gratuitous-no part of the the question. He had long been convinced funds raised having been applied to his of the pressing necessity of reducing the personal support or service. A very large ocean postage, and had written on the sub-proportion even of his continental travelling ject, while minister to England. He pro- expenses having been defrayed by himself. mised his support and sanction to the The Committee feel that, in the absence of proposed meeting. We next called upon Elihu Burritt, such a testimony is due on the mayor, who was also very cordial, and their part to one whose services have been agreed to call a public meeting in Fanueil as disinterested as they are valuable. Hall, and preside on the occasion. In order to enlist all classes and interests in the demonstration, we had an interview with the secretary and treasurer of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, who have a vast interest in cheap ocean postage, in consequence of their wide-spread connexion and correspondence with foreign countries. They saw at once the bearings of this postal reform on their operations, and promised that some member of their board should represent them at the public meeting. In the evening of the same day, we met the members of the Olive Leaf Society in Roxbury, which is virtually the continuation of Boston on the south. This has been a very active Circle from the beginning, and has done a great deal in disseminating the ideas of peace through their immediate community. Through their instrumentality, many of the ministers of the town have engaged to preach an annual sermen on the subject to their respective congregations, and they have published several tracts for their own use. We trust it will become a kind of central circle for New England, and render great aid in organising and sustaining other societies which may be formed this winter. E.B. Boston, U. S. A., Dec. 12th, 1853. are older have failed to do"-and the tears fell as he spoke “he lived long enough to achieve a religious character." WAY TO LAY UP REAL WEALTH.-A man would do well to carry a pencil in his pocket, and write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable, and should be secured because they seldom return. Lord Bacon. THE FUTURE.It has been beautifully said, that "the veil which covers the face of Futurity is woven by the hand of Mercy." Seek not to raise that veil therefore, for sadness might be seen to shade the brow that fancy had arrayed in smiles of gladness. A SILENT CONGREGATION.-Rev. Mr. Gal laudet, of the Deaf and Dumb Institution, has collected a congregation of deaf mutes in the city of New York, to whom he preaches every Sabbath in the language of signs. He proposes to build a church for this unfortunate class. PRAISE. The real satisfaction which praise can afford, is when what is repeated aloud agrees with the whispers of conscience, by showing us that we have not endeavoured to deserve well in vain.-Johnson. late Duke of Wellington, for military services to the end of 1851, a little less than a year before his death, £2,613,975, or more than thirteen million dollars, the bare interest on which at 6 per cent. would be 780,000 dollars a year. A SOLDIER'S PAY.-There had been paid to the A GREAT CONTRAST.-On the trial trip of the The Committee of the League of Brother-dean of Ripon was on board, who was also on new steamship Arabia, of the Cunard line, the hood have received, with much pleasure, very gratifying accounts from their friend, Elihu Burritt, of the commencement of his tour through the United States, to advocate the cause of Ocean Penny Postage. A feeling of deep and earnest sympathy with board Fulton's little vessel, forty-eight years ago, when she was tried on the American waters. CHINESE THERMOMETER.-The Chinese, says a missionary, use little fire, and measure cold by the thickness of jackets. Three jackets cold, is moderately cool; six jackets cold, is keen; and from ten to fifteen jackets cold, is extremely severe. A FACT FOR RECRUITS.-Of the one thousand men who formed the New York regiment in the Mexican war, only 60 are now alive, and but 40 are able to earn their living. VICTIMS OF DESPOTISM.-The Emperor of Russia has been obliged to pass a law to prevent his subjects from mutilating themselves to avoid military service. Between January, 1850, and July, 1851, 1,600 persons had mutilated themselves to avoid enrolment. GROWTH OF CITIES.-In 1790 there were but three cities in the United States which contained, a population of over 20,000 each; now there are seven of over 100,000 each, and thirty of over 20,000, among which are several that have sprung into existence within ten years. WAS IT A SUFFICIENT CAUSE FOR WAR? General Cass, in a late speech in the Senate said, "The fact is indisputable, that England went to war with Burmah, and annihilated its political existence for the non-payment of a disputed demand of £990." A CHINESE NEWSPAPER.-In Pekin, a newspaper, said to have been started more than a thousand years ago, is published weekly on silk. Several numbers of the paper are preserved in the Royal Library at Paris, They are each ten and a quarter yards long. THE REMEDY WORSE THAN THE DISEASE.-A man who had recently joined the Sons of Temperance went on business to Mobile, where he was taken sick. The physician finding him in a dangerous situation prescribed brandy, which the sick man refused to take. The doctor told him that he must, or he would have spasms. "Well," said the temperance man, "I will try a couple of spasins first." He kept his pledge, and had no spasm. THE LETTER H.-Five of the sweetest words in the English language begin with H, which is only a breath-Heart, Hope, Home, Happiness, and Heaven. Heart is a hope-place, and home is a heart-place, and that man sadly mistaketh, who would exchange the happiness of home for anything less than heaven. CALIFORNIA.-Four years and a half ago the first Protestant clergyman began to preach the gospel in California; now there are 111 evangelical clergymen, the greater part of whom are exclusively employed in preaching, and there are nearly the same number of distinct church organizations. The country is still very inadequately supplied with the means of religious instruction and education. NAVIES OF THE WORLD.-Great Britain has 636 vessels of war afloat, or in ordinary or building, carrying 17,681 guns; France has 346, carrying 8,928 guns; Russia has 179 afloat, carrying 5,896 guns; Holland has 134, carrying 1,646 guns; Turkey has 66, carrying 2.660 guns; the United States have 77, carrying 2,345 guns. DEAD LETTERS.-Seven hundred bushels or about a million of dead letters were recently destroyed by fire at Washington, according to the usage of the Post-office Department. Several hours elapsed before the conflagration was completed. HOW CHEAP POSTAGE WORKS IN ENGLAND. The returns of the General Post-office for the last year give additional proof of the efficacy of the penny postage system. In 1839, the number of letters was 76 millions; in 1840, the first year of the new system, 169 millions; in 1845, 2714 millions; in 1850, 347 millions; and in 1852, 3794 millions. THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS.-It is a fact, though not generally known, that, two hundred and thirty years ago, twenty-four dollars purchased the whole city and county of New York. HOPE FOR THE CHINESE. A company of Chinese are about erecting a large warehouse in San Francisco, for the accommodation of Chinese emigrants. Their leader, who is an educated man, has offered to give Rev. Mr. Speer, missionary to the Chinese, 2,000 dollars towards the erection of a chapel and school for the education of his countrymen. WHAT A WHISKEY BARREL CONTAINS.-Senator Rusk of Texas was once at an Indian talk," when a man drove up with a barrel of whiskey. An old Indian, after looking earnestly for some time at it, asked Mr. Rusk if he knew what was in that barrel. He said he presumed it was whiskey. "No," said the Indian, "there are about a thousand songs and fifty fights in that barrel." GROWTH OF IOWA.-The editor of the St. Paul's Minnesotian says he was at one time one of the only three white men residing within the limits of the present state of Iowa, which has now a population of over 400,000. COST OF THE ARMY AND NAVY.-The annual cost of the army and navy of the United States, to each one of our population, is 67 cents. In Great Britain and Ireland the cost is 3 dollars 56 cents; in France, 2 dollars 10 cents; in Germany, 2 dollars 28 cents. FIRES IN CALIFORNIA. The total loss of property by fires in California, during the past three years, is estimated at sixty-six millions of dollars; more than has been destroyed by fire in all the rest of the United States during the last ten years. A large part of Sacramento city was recently destroyed by fire. Free Labour. The Free-Labour Movement, during the past month, has been, though slowly, none the less surely progressing, and doubtless, as the time is arrived for the more regular meeting of the Olive Leaf Circles, a decidedly increasing interest in it will be manifested. There can be no necessity, in a cause like this, to make a more earnest appeal than has already been made to the wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters of our Christian England-to those who bear the time of Him who has said, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye THE WORLD'S FAIR.-The receipts of the even so unto them." It is only necessary London Exhibition were £505,098, and the net to inquire, what would be to our own profits more than £250,000. The Exhibition was open to the public 140 days; for 28 days the ad- minds the surest proof of sincere sympathy mission price was five shillings sterling; for 30 were we suffering under the fierce trials of days, two shillings and sixpence; and for 82 days, slavery, and total abstinence from slaveone shilling. COMMERCE OF CANADA.-The value of the ex-grown produce will be felt a positive duty; ports for 1852 from Canada to Great Britain was especially must this be the case with those €1,699,214, and to the United States £1,571,130. who advocate the cause of human brotherThe value of the imports from the United States was £3,119,424, and from Great Britain hood, who are striving to disseminate the £2,667,783. holy principles of peace and love. Our sisters in slavery have a claim upon us for help. Let us not say we can do but little, and therefore will do nothing; rather, we will do all we can, and endeavour to rouse others to join in our efforts. Let no discouragement be felt in this movement because the beginning is small. The little stream becomes in its progress the mighty river, and sweeps away all obstacles in its ever onward path. The dim twilight of early dawn adds brightness to brightness, till we behold the splendour of the noonday sun. So will it be with every undertaking which has truth for its foundation, the glory of God and the good of man for its end. The Free-Labour Movement may be much assisted by the wide circulation of the "Twenty Reasons for Total Abstinence from Slave-Grown Produce." There are now ready for sale ten thousand, at 2s. 6d. per hundred, for which orders will be gladly BESSIE ING LIS. received. Ocean Penny Postage. We look forward, with hopeful expectation, to the parliamentary session of 1854. Our readers will probably remember that, although Milner Gibson was unable to obtain a night, last session, for bringing forward a specific motion, yet that, conversationally, he elicited from the Chancellor of the Exchequer an intimation that he regarded the subject as a very proper, one for parliamentary inquiry. It is expected, therefore, that shortly after the opening of Parliament, Milner Gibson will move for the appointment of a Committee, upon whose report a substantive motion for the establishment of an Ocean Penny Postage will be introduced. The success of this motion will depend mainly upon the amount of public interest brought to bear upon Parliament, in the shape of petitions. We appeal once more to our friends throughout the country for their active and energetic co-operation in this matter. From every city, town, and hamlet, let an appeal go up, praying the Legislature to grant this great boon to the people. We shall be glad to render every assistance to those who are willing to institute petitions in their respective neighbourhoods. We will send printed forms Inquiries having reached us from various of petitions as guides to those who will quarters whether it is intended to hold take the trouble to have them written out; another Bazaar next year, we think it well or, where necessary, we will send a form to state for the information of our friends, ready written, which will only require to be that we do not think it desirable to attempt taken round for signatures. It is very a demonstration of this kind during the year desirable that the petitions should, as much 1854. It is, however, probable that the as possible, be drawn up and engrossed in operations for pressing the Ocean Penny the places from which they are sent. Postage question upon the attention of the carries with it the weight of a spontaneous Government, during the ensuing session, local effort. We shall also be glad to will so far exhaust the funds at present in supply tracts for distribution, and we may hand, that we shall look forward to a suggest to our friends that they cannot Bazaar early in the summer of 1855, to render more valuable help to the cause than enable us to press forward a vigorous agita- by sending short paragraphs to the local tion of the Free-Labour Movement. We journals, calling attention to the question hope that the Olive Leaf Circles generally and announcing that petitions are in course will sympathise in this anti-slavery depart- of signature. Free Labour Depôt, 22, Broad-street Buildings, London. Free-Labour Bazaar. E. F. It of our labours, and that they may again, in the preparations for the Bazaar, Subscriptions and Donations received since last find a source of additional interest to their Rawtenstall Luton Month: monthly reunions. We hope they will Wimborne Olive Leaf Circle.............. E. F. ditto ditto ditto ditto Leicester ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto Frome Whitehaven Cambridge, for Ocean Penny Postage... 0 13 0 OFFICE OF THE LEAGUE OF BROTHERHOOD-35, BROAD-ST. BUILDINGS, LONDON. J. UNWIN, GRESHAM STEAM PRESS, BUCKLERSBURY, BOND OF BROTHERHOOD. "God hath made of one blood all nations of men." Acts xvii.26.-"Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Isaiah ii. 4. PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN BENEVOLENCE. THE sphere of practical Christian benevolence is the empyrean, the upper Surely Christ and His disciples set forth the grandest idea ever promulgated beautiful and divine enough for the Redeemer of men; if it has been the prayer and the passion of all the greatest exemplars and prototypes of human excellence who have adorned the earth;-then who of the most aspiring of the sex shall say it is a sphere too humble and inglorious for her? If it is the very avenue to heaven, the vista through which its celestial gates are seen, not afar off, but near and nearer by, then let woman cast off all other ambitions and aspirations, and make this holy mission her cherished work. The heavenly vineyard is beyond her, and the Lord of the vineyard says, "Why stand ye here all the day idle?" In these latter days, " signs and wonders" are born of a zealous diligence. God speaks to us now, not from Sinai, not from the cloud and the pillar of fire, but through patience and perseverance in well-doing. Faithful work is holiest worship. Deeds, not words, are our authentic inspiration. Divinity is revealed through duty done. The glories of the epic poet are eclipsed by the brighter glories of the moral hero who performs the epic deeds. The divine, in his loftiest speculations, does not reveal God to man like the acted Christianity of the humblest life. Deeds of truth, deeds of benevolence, are the sublimest theophanies. When human woe vibrates the chords of sympathy in the human heart, it makes not only heavenly music, but music in heaven. On canvas and on marble, man has painted and chiselled the highest conceptions of the human mind. Woman's diviner work of art lies deeper than the insensate similitude. The new generations which God is perpetually sending into the world are her quarry, each individual of whom is more precious than all the marble of Pentelicus. Her studio is the nursery, the school-room, or wherever else she can find an instrument or an hour, to shape the human soul into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Socrates, like his father, was a sculptor until the age of thirty-five. Then he threw down his tools, and resolved, instead of the earthly art of turning marble into the similitude of men, to engage in the heavenly art of turning men into the similitude of God. Wide and illimitable as is woman's work of love, its centre and beginning must be at home. When the central home is well-ordered, then let its circumference be enlarged to take in other homes, and make the way-sides of poverty smile. There is no neighbourhood that does not present attractive scenes for deeds of beneficence. I do not mean almsgiving alone; for money is but one of the ingredients in charity. The poor need instruction in that great art which belongs equally to the useful and the elegant arts,-the Art of Living. A few household ideas often make all the difference between penury and competence, between squalor and neatness, between disease and bealth. These ideas woman can sow, as a sower does his wheat, until there shall not be a neglected or noisome spot in the fields of life. She can dispel the ignorance that broods over abandoned childhood, that ignorance which we speak of as one, but whose progeny of false ideas and actions is more numerous than the sands on all the shores. What a work for woman's plastic hand, in moulding to forms of elegance the rude manners of the community amongst whom she lives! When labourers and cottagers dwell amid models of kindness and courtesy whom they love, then will the exuvia of rudeness and vulgarity be cast away. What a moral paradox it is, that cities, where talent concentrates, which art fills with embellishment, and which are the Deltas of all the rivers of wealth, should be the great centres of suffering and inhumanity, and the places where the wild beasts of crime make their lair; while, for every wretched family going blindly to ruin, there is a wealthy "lady" perishing with ennui! Here and there, indeed, are temples consecrated to God, to be opened on the first day of the week; but ten to one are those other temples, dedicated to the Prince of Darkness, opened seven days in the week, each one of which engulfs its wide circle of ignorant adults and of innocent children, as the Maelstrom sucks down the unwary mariner. Does the woman of lofty aspirations pant for fields of glory and renown,-I point her to these. There is more true glory in conquering one vicious street to virtue, than in all the battles from Thermopyla to Waterloo. When the woman of high ambition looks with envy upon the orator, as in the senate or the forum the enraptured multitude hangs breathless upon his lips, let her remember that his most eloquent words ascend but a few furlongs into the upper air; but let her go forth and succour the distresses of the lonely, enlighten the darkness of the ignorant, and lead back wanderers from their guilty course, and her lightest whisper shall pierce the starry dome, and give joy around the throne of God. If, as the luxurious worshipper says, Christ left the realms of bliss to save her from woe, cannot she go into the next street to snatch |